Zia Park: Graser figures to come running late in Distaff

Graser could get an ideal pace setup Saturday in the $55,000 Zia Park Distaff, but she still has questions to answer in the six-furlong race for fillies and mares. The start will be her first on dirt, if she runs. She is cross-entered in an allowance Sunday at Zia.

Graser invades from Southern California, where in her last start she closed from last for third in a 6 1/2-furlong turf sprint at Santa Anita. Following that Oct. 5 race she was sent to New Mexico and trainer Justin Evans, who operates a high percentage stable at Zia. Evans on Thursday was debating a start in the Distaff, which drew a host of speed horses including Raucous Lady, African Rose, Lindz Winz, and Pyrite on My Mind.

“I think the race would set up really good for her,” Evans said Thursday. “The only thing I didn’t like is that she drew the inside. She drew the 1-hole and the 1-hole sprinting is tough. Not very many horses have won from the fence this meet at Zia.”

As for dirt, Graser has been working at Zia all month, and on Nov. 18 she went five furlongs in a bullet 1:01.60.

“She worked lights out,” said Evans. “I don’t think [dirt] will be an issue. All of her works have been very fast. She’s skipped across the track. So, I look for a real good showing on either day that we run her.”

Francisco Giles has the mount on Graser, who races for Lane Seliger.