Fields drawn for Zia Park Derby, Oaks

The fields for Zia Park’s most prestigious races were drawn Tuesday, with Breeders’ Cup Distaff starter Calamity Kate headlining the $300,000 Zia Park Oaks and International Star set to make his first start since March in the $200,000 Zia Park Derby. The races will be run next Wednesday, Nov. 25.

The Zia Park Oaks is the richest offering Nov. 25 at Zia. The card has been dubbed the Land of Enchantment card by the Hobbs, N.M., track. There are eight stakes making up the program, with six for Thoroughbreds and two for Quarter Horses. The 11-race card starts at 12:15 p.m. Mountain.

Calamity Kate is part of a seven-horse field for the Zia Park Oaks. She won the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks in July, and after a runner-up finish in the Grade 1 Cotillion at Parx tested Breeders’ Cup rivals in the Distaff. Calamity Kate finished ninth of 14 in the Distaff at Keeneland. She will be returning to the 1 1/16-mile distance of the Delaware Oaks next Wednesday. Edgar Prado has the mount for owners Lori and George Hall and trainer Kelly Breen.

The complete Zia Park Oaks field from the rail with riders is: Scat Means Go, Ricardo Santana Jr.; Calamity Kate; Sweet Opportunity, Luis Quinonez; Tosha Talifero, David Cabrera; Lavender Chrissie, Corey Lanerie; Naomi, Frank Reyes; and Never Ends, Martin Garcia.

Sweet Opportunity was the runner-up in the $200,000 Remington Park Oaks for trainer Donnie Von Hemel, while Never Ends enters off back-to-back optional claiming wins at Santa Anita for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.

The Zia Park Oaks will go as the eighth race with a scheduled post of 3:17 p.m.

The Zia Park Derby, at 1 1/16 miles, is a clash of Louisiana Derby winner International Star and Super Derby winner Mobile Bay. Nine were entered Tuesday. Mobile Bay will break from post 2 under Prado, while International Star breaks from post 6 with Garcia. The Zia Park Derby will go as the seventh race with a scheduled post of 2:51 p.m.

The other entrants are Witt Six, Fear the Cowboy, Streaks Bro, Dewey, Bold Conquest, Where’s the Moon, and Pain and Misery.

Other races on the card include the $150,000 Distance Championship, a 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds and up which drew Smack Smack, who won the local prep, the $55,000 Veterans. The $150,000 Distance Championship for Quarter Horses lured world champion Jrc Callas First.