Code West preps for Distance Championship
Code West will bring a timely company line into the $50,000 Veterans on Monday at Zia Park in Hobbs, N.M. He was second to Iron Fist in a recent stakes, a rival who has since been pre-entered in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile to be run Friday at Del Mar.
For Code West, who was beaten three-quarters of a length by Iron Fist in the $175,000 Governor’s Cup at Remington Park, the Veterans is a chance to gear-up for defense of his title in the $150,000 Zia Park Distance Championship on Nov. 22. Code West is invading from Oklahoma.
“We were looking for [a spot] to run, this race came up, and we’ve had a little success down at Zia Park,” trainer Boyd Caster said. “This will be his prep for the race a month from now, so we thought we’d go down there and try it. It’s a tough race. There’s some old hard-knockers in there.”
Chief among them is Forest Mouse, a 9-year-old seeking his fourth stakes win of the year. The field of seven also includes Hereditary, runner-up in the $200,000 Downs at Albuquerque Handicap after being previously based in New York, and Dewey, the winner of the Arapahoe Park Classic in his last start Aug. 12.
Veterans (Race 9)
KEY CONTENDERS
Code West, by Lemon Drop Kid
Last 3 Beyers: 95-93-91
◗ He’s been chasing Iron Fist his last two starts, first finishing fourth to that rival in the Grade 3 Cornhusker Handicap on July 8 at Prairie Meadows. One start later, Code West was a sharp second in the Governor’s Cup, which was run Sept. 24.
“That was the race that I thought he would run in the Cornhusker, but we got in trouble in that first turn in the Cornhusker,” Caster said. “It was a very speedy racetrack – the race was going to be won at the break and into the first turn, and we just didn’t get the break.
“We got a little redemption last time.”
◗ Code West is a Grade 3 winner of $761,227 and races for Bryan Hawk, Leo Hawk, and Tim Hawk. He will break from the rail under Ramon Vazquez.
“We’re going to try to forwardly place this horse,” Caster said. “I think he needs to get out of there.”
Forest Mouse, by Teton Forest
Last 3 Beyers: 83-85-93
◗ Forest Mouse is making his first start for Corey Johnson and trainer Justin Evans. Earlier this year, the horse won the Winsham Lad and Curribot at Sunland Park, and the SunRay Park Casino Handicap.
◗ He is a 13-time stakes winner overall and is closing in on $1 million in earnings, as he enters the Veterans with a bankroll of $964,687. His stakes victories also include the 2012 running of the Zia Park Distance Championship.