With a record 17,053 people in attendance, the pressure was on for the best of the best in Minnesota-bred horses this past Sunday at Canterbury Park’s 19th annual running of the Festival of Champions. In the end, it was Sunfish Lake resident Catherine DeCourcy and her five-year-old Bay Gelding Coconino Slim who trotted away with the $50,000 prize and bragging rights to this year’s Minnesota Classic Championship.

Trained by Mac Robertson, Canterbury’s seven-time leading trainer, and ridden by Tanner Riggs, Coconino Slim (which we might add, is a very fun name to say) covered the 1 and 1/16th mile course in 1:44.28, and outraced his competitors by a full 2 ¼ lengths of the track. Additionally, Robertson had another one of the horses he trains win on Sunday during the Minnesota Distaff Classic Championship.

“I am honored and humbled to be a part of this racehorse,” DeCourcy said following her horse’s wide margin of victory. “To lead from start to finish is just magical.”

Sunday’s crowd was the fourth biggest in Canterbury Park history and the biggest for the Minnesota-bred exclusive Festival of Champions.