Zia Park: Someplace Else ready to go in Chaves County

Someplace Else has been living someplace else for the last week and a half. The Oklahoma-based filly has been calling Zia Park in Hobbs, N.M., home since Sept. 27, when she shipped into town three days in advance of the $60,000 Chaves County Stakes.

But the Sept. 30 card that the Chaves County was on was canceled, and the race, as well as last weekend's $50,000 Lubbock for Quarter Horses, was brought back for Sunday. The movement of the two stakes has bulked up an already strong card at Zia, which is running twin Quarter Horse features, the Grade 2 Hobbs America Futurity and the Grade 3 Hobbs America Derby.

Zia officials said in a decision made with stewards and horsemen that racing was cancelled Sept. 29-30 because of heavy rain. Someplace Else has had more time than usual to adapt to her surroundings as a result, and that should be a benefit for her as she prepares to take on five other fillies and mares in the one-mile Chaves County.

"She's settled in," said Kelly Von Hemel, who trains Someplace Else for Prairie Lane Farms. "The longer she has to settle in helps her out. She's gotten to train over the track all week.

"It's turned out to be a pretty good deal."

Someplace Else will be looking for her third career stakes win in the Chaves County. She had drawn post 4 the first time the stakes was carded, but got the rail for Sunday.

"I like the outside a little better, but the [rail] is not a big deal for her," Von Hemel said. "She usually breaks really good. We'll have to see how it plays out for her."
Shane Laviolette has the mount on Someplace Else, who will be moving back to dirt, site of her six career wins, off a close third-place finish last out in the $50,000 Ricks Memorial on turf at Remington Park.

Cali Baby could go favored as she will be seeking her third straight stakes. The field of six Sunday has won a combined 44 races during their careers.

* A Dream to Remember and Fastpass Regard, who finished second and third in the $84,000 All American Juvenile on the All American Futurity undercard Sept. 3 at Ruidoso Downs, are both seeking their first stakes wins in the $80,000-added Hobbs America Futurity. The 400-yard race's fastest qualifier was Sashay Hot.
In the $80,000-added Hobbs America Derby at 440 yards, the horse to beat is Feature Mr Bojangles.