Family Tree weighing options after winning Zia Park Oaks

The direction Family Tree will take following her career-best performance Wednesday in the $300,000 Zia Park Oaks is undetermined, according to trainer Wayne Catalano.

The Zia Park Oaks anchored a card of nine stakes worth $1.2 million on the fourth annual Land of Enchantment program in Hobbs, N.M. The meet’s most prestigious card is traditionally run the day before Thanksgiving.

Catalano said the path Family Tree takes will be decided after discussions with owners Gary and Mary West and their racing manager, Benny Glass.

Family Tree won the Zia Park Oaks by 8 1/2 lengths. Her time of 1:43.59 for the 1 1/16 miles was quicker than the 1:44.06 that the $200,000 Zia Park Derby went in one race earlier. Family Tree earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 95.

“It was a very, very good race, obviously,” Catalano said Friday. “She went into that race very, very good. I thought she was the best she’s ever been.”

The Zia Park Oaks was the third stakes win of the year for Family Tree, who accounted for the Grade 2 Indiana Oaks in July and the Grade 3 Iowa Oaks in June. She also ran third to Songbird in the Grade 1 Alabama in August.

Catalano said Family Tree was shipped on Thursday to his division at Fair Grounds in New Orleans.

Zia Distaff winner headed to Oaklawn

D R C’s Pretty Sky was the other filly to run faster than the boys on the Zia Park stakes card Wednesday, when she won the $75,000 Distaff. She covered six furlongs in 1:09.71, one race after the $75,000 Zia Park Sprint went in 1:10.32.

D R C’s Pretty Sky fought for a neck win, her second stakes victory and her second win for new connections after being purchased privately for racing and as an eventual broodmare. D R C’s Pretty Sky is now owned by B and G Racing Stable and Selman Shaby.

“She’s got lot of heart,” trainer Robertino Diodoro said Friday. “She’s a gutsy mare, for sure. Hopefully, that will translate into being a good broodmare for her owners.”

Diodoro said D R C’s Pretty Sky returned to her Remington Park base in Oklahoma City on Wednesday and will head for the winter to Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark. The trainer plans to have a division at the meet that opens in January. He said the first load of horses he will send to Oaklawn will travel there during the first week in December.

D R C’s Pretty Sky is a 3-year-old daughter of Sky Mesa.

Diodoro trainees possible for Woodchopper

Inside Straight, who was a fast-closing third in the Zia Park Derby, and Way Striking, who was fifth, both could return to turf for their next starts, trainer Diodoro said. He said both are possible for the $75,000 Woodchopper for 3-year-olds at about a mile on turf Dec. 31 at Fair Grounds.

“Right now, the early plan is to take both to that race,” Diodoro said Friday.

Inside Straight, who was beaten three-quarters of a length in the Zia Derby, has made two starts on grass, winning one and finishing second in another. Way Striking last raced on turf in the $200,000 Mystic Lake Derby in August at Canterbury Park and was fourth, beaten just a half-length by Grade 3 winner One Mean Man.

◗ Zia Park moves into the final stretch of its meet in December. The track will close its mixed stand for Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses on Dec. 13. The final stakes race of the meet is the Grade 1, $200,000 Southwest Juvenile Championship for Quarter Horses on Dec. 4.