Trainer Mac Robertson won both thoroughbred stakes on Friday at Canterbury Park, but it took a stewards’ disqualification to get the second one. 

Joni’s Justice reaffirmed the old race track adage "pace makes the race" when he led from gate to wire to win the $50,000 Blair’s Cove Stakes. The 6-year-old Minnesota-bred was allowed to creep along unchallenged on the lead under jockey Dean Butler, covering the first half mile of the 1 1/16th mile turf race in 50  2/5 seconds.  The slow fractions allowed Butler to reserve sufficient energy to win by a head, holding off a surge from long shot Cubfanbudman. Final time of the race over a firm course was 1:44 3/5.

“It’s never easy to go all the way on the front on the turf,” Butler said. “This is a game, old horse that gives you everything he’s got.” Joni’s Justice returned $7 to win.

Joni’s Justice is owned by Joni and Barry Butzow of Eden Prairie. This was the second Blair’s Cove win for the owners and trainer. They won this race, which is restricted to horses bred in Minnesota, with Sir Tricky in 2008. Sir Tricky finished third in this running.

A stewards’ disqualification placed Robertson in the winners’ circle with Fufty Too following the running of the $50,000 Dean Kutz Stakes. Big Push ridden by Tracy Hebert set the fractions in the 1-mile turf race with Fufty Too and jockey Scott Stevens tracking in second. Big Push drifted out in the stretch and bumped Fufty Two, causing the stewards to review the race and disqualify Hebert and Big Push for interference in the stretch. They were placed second behind Fufty Too.

Final time of the race was 1:36 4/5.

Fufty Too is owned by Joseph Novogratz of Eden Prairie. This was the first turf start for the son of Speightstown. Fufty Too returned $6.80.