Mr Money Bags battles to victory in Zia Park Derby

Mr Money Bags won the fifth stakes race of his career Wednesday, when he fought off a resurgent Dueling for a neck victory in the $250,000 Zia Park Derby. It was another 5 1/4 lengths back in third to Walker Stalker.

The Zia Derby was one of seven stakes on the annual $1 million Land of Enchantment Day at Zia Park in Hobbs, N.M. It shared top billing with the $250,000 Zia Park Oaks won by Motion Emotion.

Both races were scratched down to small fields due in part to New Mexico not allowing nine stakes horses from Remington Park on the grounds at Zia because of three recent cases of equine herpesvirus at Remington.

The Zia Derby went from 10 horses down to five, with three defections due to the situation at Remington. Mr Money Bags ($3.80) moved into the five-hole from the 10-hole, broke sharply, and let Dueling, who started from the rail, set the pace. Dueling took his rivals through an opening quarter in 24.35 seconds and a half-mile in 50.19.

“I saw the horse inside was going to go and I let him go,” winning rider Ernesto Valdez-Jiminez said on the simulcast feed from Zia.

Mr Money Bags engaged Dueling on the final turn, took the lead through six furlongs in 1:14.85, and held his advantage to the wire as Dueling fought back along the inside. The winner covered the 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:44.04.

“He’s an amazing horse,” Valdez-Jiminez said. “He does anything you want. He’s a pretty smart horse.”

Mike Neatherlin trains Mr Money Bags for owner and breeder Roy Cobb. The horse, who is a Texas-bred son of Silver City, has now won 7 of 10 starts and earned $345,270. He was winning the biggest race of his career in the Zia Derby.

Mr Money Bags is now 3 for 3 at Zia, where he won his debut last November and the $50,000 Roadrunner in his start immediately preceding the Zia Derby.

The scratches from the race on Sunday were Hustle Up, Bankit, Sleepy Eyes Todd, Proverb, and Tone Broke.

Handle on the 10-race card from all sources was more than $1.1 million.

Motion Emotion takes Oaks

The talented Motion Emotion became a stakes winner when she held off a fast-closing Calf Moon Bay for a half-length victory in the $250,000 Zia Park Oaks. It was another 14 3/4 lengths back in third to McWend, who was followed under the wire by Glacier Point.

The Oaks, at 1 1/16 miles, was scratched down to a field of four.

Motion Emotion ($2.40) stalked lone leader Glacier Point through fractions of 23.47 for the opening quarter and 47.50 for the half-mile. She overtook that one through six furlongs in 1:12.46 and went on to cover the distance in 1:44.40.

“When she committed to the lead, we decided to stay behind that one,” Mario Gutierrez, who rode Motion Emotion, said. “It worked out well.”

Gutierrez was aboard for trainer Richard Baltas.

Motion Emotion had run second in a pair of Oaklawn races this spring – the Grade 3 Honeybee and Grade 3 Fantasy – in performances that sent her to the Kentucky Oaks.

Motion Emotion invaded from Southern California for the race Wednesday, but was coming off a runner-up finish in an optional $100,000 claiming route Oct. 18 at Keeneland. She has now won 3 of 10 starts for earnings of $418,845.

Motion Emotion is a daughter of Take Charge Indy who races for the partnership of Abbondanza Racing, Medallion Racing, and Mark DeDomenico.

Chief Cicatriz wins Zia Sprint

Chief Cicatriz ($4.20) shuttled through six furlongs in 1:08.84 while winning the $100,000 Zia Park Sprint by two lengths over pacesetter Secular Nation. It was another 3 3/4 lengths back in third to Silver Ride.

“What a nice horse,” said Tyler Baze, who rode Chief Cicatriz for the first time Wednesday.

Chief Cicatriz is owned by Roy Evans and trained by Shawn Davis. He has now won 12 of 19 starts and earned $423,845. Chief Cicatriz, who has registered eight of his wins in stakes, is a son of Munnings.

In the counterpart race for fillies and mares, the 3-year-old She’s My Gem ($3.60) defeated older rivals when she overtook pacesetter Best of Me for a one-length win in the $100,000 Zia Park Distaff. It was four lengths back in third to Award It. The winner covered six furlongs in 1:09.76. Todd Fincher trains She’s My Gem, a daughter of Into Mischief, for Dale F. Taylor.

Restrainedvengence another winner for Baze

Baze won a second stakes on the card when Restrainedvengence ($6) set a pressured pace and went on to a 4 1/2-length victory in the $150,000 Zia Park Distance Championship. Downtowner finished second by a nose over Sphene, while it was another length back in third to favorite Sky Promise.

Restrainedvengence set fractions of 23.59 for the opening quarter, 47.83 for the half-mile, and 1:12.45 for six furlongs. He had more in the stretch and went on to cover the 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in a sharp 1:48.69.

“He was comfortable and he was doing it easily,” Baze said of the early fractions.

Baze was aboard for trainer Val Brinkerhoff.

Restrainedvengence has now won 5 of 19 starts and earned $360,222. He was winning the third stakes of his career in the Distance Championship. The son of Hold Me Back races for the partnership of Kelly Brinkerhoff and Bob Grayson Jr.

Arrieta sweeps juvenile stakes

Jockey Francisco Arrieta completed a sweep of the 2-year-old stakes on the card when Midnight Emma ($24.80) came through for 1 1/2-length win over Smart N Wicked in the $75,000 Princess. It was another 1 1/4 lengths back in third to 1-2 favorite Wasabi Girl. The winner covered six furlongs in 1:10.47. Jose Silva owns and trains the daughter of Midnight Lute.

Maius ($7.80) won the third stakes race of his career when he overtook Party Town for a 1 3/4-length victory over that one in the $75,000 Zia Juvenile.

It was another 1 1/4 lengths back in third to favorite Competitive Idea. Maius covered six furlongs in 1:10.29. Arrieta rode the son of Rocky Bar for Eli Diamant and trainer O.A. Martinez Jr.