California horses to invade for Land of Enchantment card

The $1 million Land of Enchantment card next Wednesday at Zia Park in Hobbs, N.M., drew strong support from stables based in California. The program of seven Thoroughbred stakes drew nine horses from California, including four in the $250,000 Zia Park Derby – Air Strike, Restrainedvengence, Yulong Warrior, and All Out Blitz.

California also is sending Secret Spice, the possible favorite for the $250,000 Zia Park Oaks; Alliford Bay for the $100,000 Distaff; Watch Me Burn and Six Pack Gal for the $75,000 Princess; and Anyportinastorm for the $100,000 Sprint.

“We got good turnout from California,” said Matt Crawford, director of racing operations for Zia.

Crawford said most of the horses from California are scheduled to arrive Monday. They will fly from Ontario International Airport to El Paso, Texas, then travel about 3 1/2 hours by van to Zia.

The Land of Enchantment card has a new look this year. Crawford added a pair of 2-year-old stakes to the lineup and moved the four Quarter Horse races to a separate showcase program Dec. 2. He also made the purse of the Zia Park Oaks – previously worth $300,000 – and the Zia Park Derby the same to give the races equal billing. The leftover funds were put into the 2-year-old stakes.

“We’re happy with both races being an equal amount,” Crawford said. “We’re hoping to get them graded.”

The Zia Derby will be run over 1 1/16 miles. The field of nine, from the rail with riders, is: Limation, Ricardo Santana Jr.; Air Strike, Florent Geroux; Nanoosh, Orlando Mojica; Analyze This Jet, Sasha Risenhoover; Restrainedvengence, Alonso Quinonez; Yulong Warrior, Evin Roman; Sky Promise, Rico Walcott; Combatant, Alfredo Juarez Jr.; and All Out Blitz, Martin Garcia.

Secret Spice enters the Zia Oaks – also at 1 1/16 miles – off a Santa Anita allowance win for which she earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 105. She will break from the rail, with trainer Richard Baltas giving the mount to Geroux. Her chief rivals include Grade 3 winners She’s a Julie and Cosmic Burst.

First post for the 10-race Land of Enchantment card is noon Mountain. The program also includes the $150,000 Zia Park Distance Championship, which drew Grade 3 winners Harlan Punch and Shotgun Kowboy. Stallwalkin’ Dude, a stalwart on the East Coast, goes in the Sprint.

Zia’s sister track, Penn National, also will have a rich card next Wednesday. The nighttime program on the eve of Thanksgiving features three stakes, led by the $200,000 Fabulous Strike.

“Hopefully, folks will want to sneak out of the house before Thanksgiving, go to the OTB, and bet a little bit,” Crawford said.

:: Want to get the latest news with your past performances? Try DRF’s new digital PPs