Fields set for Zia Park Oaks, Derby

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 part of a program of eight stakes this coming Wednesday.

Calamity Kate faces six others in 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, she tested Breeders’ Cup rivals in the Distaff. Calamity Kate finished ninth of 14 at Keeneland. She will be returning to the 1 1/16-mile distance of the Delaware Oaks. Edgar Prado has the mount for trainer Kelly Breen.

The Zia Park Oaks field from the rail, with jockeys: 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 Derby is a clash of Louisiana Derby winner International Star and Super Derby winner Mobile Bay. In all, a field of nine was entered, with Mobile Bay to break from post 2 under Prado and Garcia aboard International Star from post 6. International Star likely will arrive at Zia from his Kentucky base on Sunday, said trainer Mike Maker.