Quills Picks Winners – Thursday 8/20 – Canterbury Park Race 4

I thought I would really switch things up today. The weather when I first started looking at today’s race was not looking good for Saratoga, so I decided to zig into another direction. I looked at Del Mar, and decided to go elsewhere.

So tonight, I will give the 2026 debut of Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota. They have 8 races on the card with the first three races being quarter horse races that I cannot wager on here in Pennsylvania. So we will go with race four on an eight-race card.

In this race we have a field of seven going seven and a half furlongs on the turf. If you’re a Canterbury regular, they bunch their turf races together on these evening cards since they do not have lights on the turf course. Let’s put some light onto this race as we take our foray to this Minnesota track.

Canterbury Park Race 4 – Allowance

Favored in this evening’s race is the 4 High Ransom (5/2 morning line). He returned from an almost three-month break and weakened late on the grass here at Canterbury. He likes to be on the lead and has come success on this course. He needs the front, but he has tired in races going two turns.

The 2 Ramblingamblinman (4/1 ML) has run well on the grass here at Canterbury but has yet to win over the course. Last time out he sat behind the leaders and didn’t have the punch needed to get up late in an allowance race two weeks ago. He might not have the strongest kick, but you do have horses that tend to tire on the lead.

The 1 Rynotograce (9/2 ML) has run mostly on dirt but makes his return to the turf today. He has shown little on the main track but has two seconds and two thirds on the turf, all here at Canterbury. A return to the turf may be what the doctor ordered here today.

The 5 Wyles (7/2 ML) closed strongly to break his maiden at long odds on the turf here at Canterbury two weeks ago. This performance may have come out of nowhere, but if he replicates that performance this evening, he could be passing a field of tiring horses.

Joe’s Pick

This race was a tough one to handicap because there are a few horses that appear to tire on the front end. There is one horse that appears to close, but was that a one-hit wonder race or did the light bulb turn on? I think the former.

I’m go with Rynotograce here today. He has never been on the turf, all of which where here at Canterbury. He returns to the grass this evening and should be able to stand out here in this turf race. I am hoping we can get a price with the blah results on the main track this year.

I’m calling this race 1-5-4-2 and my play is $20 to win on the 1. Best of luck and I’ll see you in the winner’s circle!