Flying Connection seeks New Mexico sweep in Zia Park Oaks

Flying Connection will attempt to complete a sweep of New Mexico’s biggest offerings for her division Tuesday, when she starts as the probable favorite in the $300,000 Zia Park Oaks.

The 1 1/16-mile race is the state’s co-richest race for 3-year-old fillies alongside the $300,000 Sunland Oaks, which Flying Connection won in March.

The Zia Oaks shares a card with the $300,000 Zia Park Derby as part of a Land of Enchantment Day card of seven stakes worth $1.1 million.

Flying Connection faces eight others, including Halosnheaven, a daughter of champion Indian Blessing; Magic Bubbles, third-place finisher in the Grade 3 Remington Park Oaks; and Love Tank, runner-up in the Sunland Oaks.

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Flying Connection is back at Zia, where she is 2 for 2. She took a maiden race by 15 lengths last year and proceeded to win the Zia Princess on Land of Enchantment Day. Flying Connection last ran Sept. 30 and won the $75,000 Charles Taylor Derby over males at the Downs at Albuquerque.

“She ran a good race,” trainer Todd Fincher said. “The pace was a little slow. She used to want to run off on the lead. We ran her on the grass this summer and she learned to relax a little bit. It was a pretty slow pace last time and she sat right off of it, took over when asked. Obviously, it’s a tougher race this time.”

Flying Connection wired the field in the Sunland Oaks and went on to set the pace in the Kentucky Oaks, finishing sixth. In more recent times, she was second in the Grade 3 Torrey Pines on Sept. 2 at Del Mar.

“She’s matured a little,” Fincher said. “She’s shown the ability to settle a little more. She can go to the front. She’s learned to relax, so that maturity has helped quite a bit.”

Joel Rosario has the mount from post 2.

Cristian Torres will be aboard Triple L’s Cutter, who could be prominent stretching out from seven furlongs. She was supplemented to the Zia Oaks by her new owner, trainer Robertino Diodoro, who has started to increase his number of personal runners.

“A little bit, with the purses the way they are,” Diodoro said. “It’s a gamble, just like anything in horse racing. It’s a good gamble.”

Halosnheaven won over first-level allowance rivals at 5 1/2 furlongs last out at Zia.

Zia Park Championship

Bye Bye Bobby and Presidential, who finished one-two in last month’s Downs at Albuquerque Handicap, continue their rivalry in the $125,000 Championship. The 1 1/8-mile race drew five, including Paluxy, a winner at the distance in the Governor’s Cup at Remington, and Mine That Star, a half-brother to Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird who won at this distance in the Sunland Park Handicap.

Bye Bye Bobby stalked the pace en route to a 1 3/4-length win in the Albuquerque, a start that came following a summer at Del Mar in which he ran third in the Grade 3 Cougar II and second in the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien. He won over 1 1/8 miles at Albuquerque.

“Hopefully, he’ll run his race,” Fincher said. “He really got a perfect trip last time and did what he’s supposed to do.”

Tracy Hebert has the mount from post 2. Rosario will be aboard Presidential from post 3, for trainer Steve Asmussen.

◗ Albizu and Jaxon Traveler are the two invaders for the $100,000 Sprint, which drew 10.

Albizu enters off a win in the David M. Vance at Remington. The race was run over the same six furlongs he will travel Tuesday. He was just up, after closing with determination.

“I thought it was one of his better performances, and he just continues to train and do well,” Diodoro said. “He’s as solid as they come.”

Torres has the mount from post 6 for owner Jerry Caroom.

“He needs a little pace to run at,” Diodoro said.

◗ Diodoro has a pair of runners for the $100,000 Princess for 2-year-old fillies at six furlongs in Curlin’s Magic, an 11-length maiden special weight winner, and Crown Thirty, a debut winner owned by Diodoro.

Curlin’s Magic enters off runner-up finish to Chi Chi in the E.L. Gaylord Memorial at Remington. Since the race, Chi Chi has won a stakes at Gulfstream. In the Gaylord, Curlin’s Magic had the lead in the late stages of the 6 1/2-furlong race before being overtaken.

“She got a little green down the lane on us last time,” Diodoro said. “I think cutting back a half-furlong is not going to hurt her, either.”

Tx Women for Arts, a stakes winner who was third in the Gaylord, and Candy Aisle, who won her maiden over males in the Manzano at Albuquerque, add depth to the Princess.

“I really like that filly, especially when they start going farther,” Fincher said.

Earlier on the card, Fincher has another promising 2-year-old filly in the maiden ranks in Aye Candy, who is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Senor Buscador and Grade 3 winner Runaway Ghost.

◗ Trainer Ray Ashford Jr. is coming home to New Mexico for Tuesday’s card and will saddle the promising debut winner American Warrior against American Rascal, a son of Lady Aurelia, in the $100,000 Juvenile.

◗ Grade 3 winner Canoodling seeks a second win in the Distaff, which she captured in 2021.

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