Canterbury Park preps for Belmont Stakes excitement

SHAKOPEE, Minn. (KMSP) - Saturday's Belmont Stakes takes place in New York, but thanks to a potential Triple Crown winner, business is also expected to pick up at Canterbury Park.

"I would say our business, for sure doubles, if not triples and I think that's at any race track across the country," said Jeff Maday, the Canterbury Park media relations manager.

Canterbury is expecting to see a crowd as large as possibly 15,000 people on Saturday. The track will have its own live racing for the fans to see, but when the call to the post comes at Belmont, all eyes will be on Justify.

"I think he's the best we've seen in some time," said Canterbury Racing Analyst Brian Arrigoni.

After winning the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, Justify enters the third leg of the Triple Crown as the heavy favorite.

"I think the race goes through Justify,” said Arrigoni. “There's not a whole lot of other pace in there. In the Preakness, you saw Good Magic take it to him early - Justify was just the best. It's an intriguing race, but i think Justify gets the job done.”

A Triple Crown run draws a lot of attention and whether racing enthusiasts are just there to watch or perhaps place a wager, Canterbury can thank Justify for that boost in business.

"I think it's going to be a huge, festive crowd and they're going to see history,” said Maday. “They're going to see Justify win the Belmont and win the Triple Crown."

Jockey Mike Smith, who will ride Justify in the Belmont Stakes, is in the Canterbury Park Hall of Fame. If he ends up in the winner's circle on Saturday, Justify will be just the second horse in the last 40 years to complete the Triple Crown.