Iron Fist closes career with Zia Park Championship win

Iron Fist closed out his career on a winning note Wednesday in the $150,000 Zia Park Championship, when he overtook pacesetter Code West for a 2 1/4-length win. Code West held second, while it was another 10 lengths back in third to Way Striking.

The Zia Championship was one of nine stakes on the $1.2 million Land of Enchantment card. The races supported the meet’s richest offering for Thoroughbreds, the $300,000 Zia Park Oaks won by Sandy's Surprise ($7).

Iron Fist was winning his fifth stakes race on the year in the Championship. He is now scheduled to stand stud at the Whispering Oaks Farm operation of his owner, Carrol Castille, according to trainer Steve Asmussen. Whispering Oaks is in Louisiana.

Iron Fist ($3.40), who was coming off a fifth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, broke well from the rail and into the first turn his rider, Ricardo Santana Jr., situated the horse outside of Code West. Iron Fist sat about a length off that foe, who strolled through fractions of 25.06 seconds for the opening quarter, 49.45 for the half-mile, and 1:13.21 for six furlongs. Iron Fist drew even with Code West into the stretch and the pair dueled to the later stages, with 124-pound highweight Iron Fist pulling clear while covering 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:50.36.

“He’s an amazing horse,” said Santana. “I’m going to miss this horse. He always tries so hard. He’s got a big heart.”

Iron Fist is a son of Tapit and a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Sweet Lulu and a full brother to Grade 2 winner Anchor Down. The horses are all from the Orientate mare Successful Outlook.

Iron Fist retires with a record of 9 wins from 24 starts, for earnings of $1,104,199. His other stakes wins this year came in the Grade 3 Cornhusker at Prairie Meadows, the Governor’s Cup at Remington Park, the Maxxam Gold Cup at Sam Houston and the Evangeline Mile at Evangeline Downs.

Cedartown becomes stakes winner in Zia Derby

Cedartown won his stakes debut in the $200,000 Zia Park Derby, when he darted home 1 3/4 lengths ahead of late-running favorite Untrapped. It was another length back in third to Chief Know It All.

The Zia Derby, at 1 1/16 miles, was the second-richest race on the card.

Cedartown ($17.60) settled in fourth behind Equator, who took the field through fractions of 23.89 seconds for the opening quarter, 47.67 for the half-mile and 1:11.69 for six furlongs. Cedartown moved to the fore on the final turn, was overtaken by Chief Know It All, but fought back in the stretch and went on to cover the distance in 1:43.76.

“When that horse went by him, he showed his class and just rebroke,” said Ry Eikleberry, who rode the winner for trainer Michael Stidham.

Cedartown entered the Zia Derby off a first-level allowance route at Keeneland on Oct. 20 in which he ran second by a neck, but was placed first. Cedartown is a son of Candy Ride and from the same mare, Talkin and Singing, as multiple Grade 2 winner Danzing Candy. Cedartown races for Godolphin. He earned $120,000 for the win, his third from six starts. Cedartown has now earned $204,200.

Four straight for K P Wildcat

K P Wildcat ($4.60) won her fourth straight race when she swept past the leaders in the lane in the $75,000 Zia Distaff. She won by a length over Game Time Decision and covered six furlongs in 1:09.50. Roimes Chirinos was aboard the winner for trainer Wes Martin. K P Wildcat is a daughter of Include who races for Karl Pergola. She was winning her third stakes of the year Wednesday.

► Mt Veeder ($35.60) upset stablemate Redneck Humor in the $75,000 Zia Sprint, when he held off the late rally of that rival while covering six furlongs in 1:09.56. Redneck Humor was the favorite after winning six stakes in his previous six starts. Both horses are trained by Justin Evans. Alfredo Juarez, Jr., was aboard Mt Veeder, a son of Ghostzapper who races for Bill Tomasic and Go-To-Toga Racing.

► Juarez won a second stakes on the card with Indian Jack ($5.40), who overcame the widest post to win his two-turn debut by a half-length over Jet N G in the $140,000 Eddy County. The one-mile and 70-yard race was for 2-year-olds bred in New Mexico. Joel Marr trains Indian Jack, a son of Indian Firewater, for Donnell Echols.

World champion dominates Quarter Horse Championship

Jessies First Down ($3.80), the reigning world champion Quarter Horse, made short work of a talented field when he won the Grade 1, $150,000 Distance Championship by 1 3/4 lengths. He covered 440 yards on a track rated fast in 21.79 seconds, with Rodrigo Vallejo aboard for trainer Jimmy Padgett II.

“Every day is a blessing with this horse,” said Padgett.

Ted Abrams, who owns Jessies First Down, said the horse would make his next start in the Grade 1 Championship at Sunland.

The other Quarter Horse stakes winners on the card were Funny Munny ($11.20) by a nose in the $50,000 King Rick Rack and Running Dragon ($9.80) by a neck in the $140,000 New Mexico Fillies and Mares Championship.