Last race points out Untrapped in Zia Park Derby
Untrapped will bring a strong company line into the $200,000 Zia Park Derby on Wednesday.
Untrapped won the Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park over Battle of Midway, who came back to win the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. Untrapped will be making his first start since the Oklahoma Derby and figures to go favored in a field that includes Chief Know It All, who comes off back-to-back derby wins in Canada, and General Council, the 18 1/2-length winner of the Charles Taylor Derby at Albuquerque. You’re to Blame has been scratched, making for a field of nine Wednesday.
“I would have to say Battle of Midway’s Dirt Mile flattered him,” said Untrapped’s trainer, Steve Asmussen.
The Zia Derby, over 1 1/16 miles, is one of eight stakes supporting the $300,000 Zia Park Oaks. The program includes a trio of races for Quarter Horses, topped by a matchup of reigning world champion Jessies First Down and 2016 All American Futurity winner Imperial Eagle in the $150,000 Distance Championship.
Untrapped placed in five graded stakes this year before winning his first stakes in the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby. He rallied for a 1 3/4-length victory.
“It was very gratifying because we’ve always had great faith in the horse,” Asmussen said. “I think he finally put it all together. He’s always had talent. He showed the ability he’s always had.”
Untrapped earned a Beyer Figure of 95, which is the best last-race number in the Zia Derby. He will break from the rail under Ricardo Santana Jr., who has the mount for owner Mike Langford.
Chief Know It All overcame adversity when he was up for a nose win in the Grade 3 British Columbia Derby, a three-turn race Sept. 9 at Hastings. Rico Walcott was aboard and has the mount Wednesday.
“He ran a super race,” trainer Robertino Diodoro said. “He got stuck down on the rail, the track was wet that day, and every horse on the rail stopped. I thought when he got out, he might be empty, but when Rico got him out he came running. He ran a big race that day. Showed a lot of heart.”
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Chief Know It All will break from post 9.
“He’ll be laying just right off the lead, I think,” Diodoro said. “Just looking at it, there’s not tons of speed in there. He’ll be laying fairly close.”
Cedartown was placed first in a first-level allowance route at Keeneland on Oct. 20, while Steely Resolve won his debut last out in a maiden special weight sprint at Del Mar.
Iron Fist to close career
Iron Fist, who has won four stakes races this year and is coming off a fifth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, will close out his career in the $150,000 Zia Championship Handicap.
“This is his last run,” said Asmussen, who trains Iron Fist for the Whispering Oaks Farm operation of Carrol Castille. “He’s going to stand stud at Mr. Castille’s place. What an addition to the Louisiana breeding program he will be. He’s a graded stakes winner, and has enough looks and pedigree to have brought a million and a half as a yearling. He’s the whole package.”
Iron Fist has been made the 124-pound highweight for the 1 1/8-mile Zia Championship, which drew five others, including stakes winners Code West, Ol Winedrinker Who, and Way Striking. Iron Fist earned a Beyer of 96 in the Dirt Mile. He stalked the pace and finished 7 1/4 lengths behind Battle of Midway.
“I thought he ran well,” Asmussen said. “He kind of got held up a little bit at the three-eighths pole and they got away, and he didn’t make that ground up. He got beat by four good horses.”
Iron Fist will break from the rail under Ricardo Santana.
Daniel Vergara rides Way Striking, who enters off an allowance win Oct. 16 at Turf Paradise. He shows a series of sharp works for Wednesday.
“The horse has been training great, probably the best he’s trained all year,” Diodoro said. “He’s had a good year already. He could have had an even better year with a little bit of luck. I really like him in there.”
Way Striking figures to be prominent, perhaps showing the way or tracking Code West.
“We’re not going to let anyone have an easy lead,” Diodoro said.
Code West won the local prep, the Veterans, one start after finishing second to Iron Fist in the $175,000 Governor’s Cup at Remington.
◗ Asmussen and Diodoro have top contenders in two additional stakes on the card. In the $75,000 Distaff at six furlongs, Asmussen will send out Christina’s Comet off back-to-back route victories. Earlier in her career, she placed in three stakes races.
“She has a nice pedigree and it would be nice to get over the hump and win,” Asmussen said.
Diodoro counters with Summer House, who enters off a fourth-place finish in the Chaves County at a mile at Zia on Oct. 2.
“I really think a person will see a different horse this time,” Diodoro said. “She doesn’t really want to run that far.”
◗ Diodoro has Hammers Vision in from New York for the $75,000 Zia Sprint, while Asmussen will counter with Counterforce. But the story of the race is Redneck Humor, who has won stakes races in his last six starts.
◗ Blazing Navarone leads the $140,000 Eddy County for 2-year-olds bred in New Mexico.
