Minnesota-bred filly A. J. Bakes picked up where she left off in 2007 by winning the $50,000 Lady Slipper Stakes at Canterbury Park on Saturday afternoon.

Undefeated during her two-year-old season at Canterbury Park, A. J. Bakes won her first start of 2008 under Canterbury Park Hall of Fame Jockey Scott Stevens, completing the six furlongs in 1:13 and 1/5 seconds. A. J. Bakes was purchased for $3,000 at the 2006 Minnesota Thoroughbred Association Yearling Sale and this win pushed her career earnings to $97,480 from five lifetime starts. Todd Hoffrogge trains A. J. Bakes for owners John Baker of Eden Prairie, and Robert Knox of White Bear Lake.

“We have the best trainer here, Todd Hoffrogge,” Baker said. “The horse is named after my daughter Annie, my son Jack and our family’s last name … it’s awesome to own such a fantastic horse.”

 A.J. Bakes, by Boundary, has ties to the national racing scene as she shares the same sire as Big Brown, winner of the 2008 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.

On June 7, Big Brown will try to become the 12th Triple Crown winner and the first horse since Affirmed in 1978 to complete the task.

The co-featured 10,000 Lakes Stakes, also with a $50,000 purse, produced a parimutuel shocker when Banker’s D Light won as the longest shot on the board. Owned by Phil Hartman of Glendale, Ariz. and Adam Seurer of New Market, Banker’s D Light was able to sneak through on the rail and draw off to a 1 1/2-length victory in 1:12 and 2/5 seconds. Anne Von Rosen was aboard. Hartman also trains Banker’s D Light who paid $50.20 for a $2 win wager.

"I really had no doubts in my mind that the horse had the ability,” Hartman said. “He ran a very nice race off the layoff at Turf Paradise [in Phoenix] and I really thought that he’d fire a big one today. He’s matured a great deal both mentally and physically since last summer, I look forward to campaigning him at Canterbury throughout the summer.”

Racing continues at Canterbury Sunday. First post is 1:30 p.m. Big Brown will compete in the 140th Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 7 in Elmont, NY. Canterbury Park will simulcast the Belmont Stakes with advance wagering beginning on Friday, June 6.