During her 20-race career, Closeout has seen a good portion of the United States, running at 10 different tracks spanning from Gulfstream Park all the way west to Santa Anita Park. The Florida-bred filly will add an 11th track to her list Saturday when she runs in the $100,000 Lady Canterbury Stakes at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minn.
Closeout, a 5-year-old daughter of Repriced, has won at five different tracks, including Grade 3 scores in last year’s Locust Grove Handicap at Churchill Downs and the 2008 Pucker Up Stakes at Arlington Park. She also won a maiden race at Fair Grounds and the $50,000 Audubon Oaks at Ellis Park in 2008. Her most recent win came in the $85,000 L and D Farm Turf Distaff Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs in April.
Oddsmakers believe Closeout has a good chance of making a winning debut at Canterbury Park, having installed her as the 4-1 second choice in a field of 11 fillies and mares, and her trainer, Tom Proctor, agrees.
“She’s doing fine, and I think she has a big shot up there,” said Proctor, who is based at Arlington Park in suburban Chicago. “I wouldn’t drive all that way up there if I didn’t think that. Hopefully, she’ll have a stalking trip. I just hope she has a good trip up there and a good trip in the race.”
Closeout has six wins and as many runner-up finishes for $450,123 in earnings, making her the second-richest horse entered in the Lady Canterbury. Only 5-2 morning-line favorite Danzon, with $552,544 in winnings, has earned more. Like Closeout, Danzon earned a Grade 3 win in the Locust Grove Handicap, winning the most recent edition July 3 by a nose over Florida-bred Happiness Is.
Danzon has won 10 of her 29 starts. The 7-year-old Royal Academy mare and Closeout each will carry 123 pounds in the Lady Canterbury, conceding three to seven pounds to their rivals. Closeout drew the rail and will have E.T. Baird aboard for the first time, while Danzon drew the far-outside post and will run under Julien Leparoux.
Closeout and Danzon have both specialized in turf races going one mile, the distance of the Locust Grove and Lady Canterbury, with Closeout going 2-for-5 and Danzon 5-for-11.
The field also includes Wine Diva (10-1), Ansong (10-1), Mizzcan’tbewrong (10-1), Never Retreat (10-1), War Tigress (10-1), Embers Glowing (20-1), Dancin Perfect (8-1), Whenthetimeisright (30-1) and Afleet Deceit (6-1).
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Reed Palmer Photo
