Zia Park: Ol Winemaker Who avoids DQ in Zia Derby

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Ol Winedrinker Who, with Carlos Madeira aboard, takes the Zia Park Derby by 3 3/4 lengths.

Ol Winedrinker Who returned to racing with 3-year-olds Saturday in the $150,000 Zia Park Derby and pulled a mild upset in the race when he darted clear by 3 3/4 lengths over Master Rick.

Following the race, Master Rick’s camp lodged a claim of foul against the winner for interference in the stretch, but the order of finish was allowed to stand.

Alsvid set the pace and finished third as the 4-5 favorite, a half-length behind Master Rick.  

Ole Winedrinker Who ($15.20) had been facing older rivals in his two starts prior to the Zia Derby, and finished second in both of those races. Saturday, he settled about five lengths behind Motown Men and Alsvid, who dueled through fractions of 23.55 seconds for the opening quarter, 47.29 for the half-mile,  and 1:11.73 for six furlongs. Alsvid went on, but was overtaken by Ole Winedrinker Who, who, after drifting in the stretch, covered  1 1/16 miles on a track rated fast in 1:44.42.

Carlos Madeira rode the winner for trainer Joel Marr.

“We knew it would be tough and didn’t know if he could compete against such a good field,” said Marr. “But we knew one thing, and that was that he was training as good as he could train and loved the course.  I think that’s got to help.  He just likes it here.”

Ol Winedrinker Who picked up his second stakes win of the year in the Zia Derby, with his first coming in June in the $40,000 Norgor Derby at Ruidoso Downs. The horse races for his breeders, Sam E. and Sammy L. Stevens. He has now won 4 of 10 starts and $179,713. Ol Winedrinker Who is a Texas-bred by Sligo Bay.