Mr. Trieste wins seventh straight

Mr. Trieste won his seventh straight race by a surging neck on Saturday in the $81,600 at Zia Park in Hobbs, N.M., and in the process set a new track record. He covered the mile and a sixteenth over a track rated fast in 1:43.

The record was the second Mr. Trieste has set at the inaugural Zia meet. In his previous start on Oct. 22, he won the $65,000 Kachina Mile in a track-record time of 1:36.60.

Mr. Trieste ($2.60) was the 126-pound highweight for the Veteran, and he spotted his rivals between 8 and 12 pounds. He was content to race in fourth early, as Secret Folly led the field through fractions of 24.20 seconds for the opening quarter and 47.40 for the half-mile mark. Mr. Trieste advanced steadily and was up for a neck win over Don't Strike Out. Ken Tohill rode the winner for trainer Gary Cross.

Cross said Mr. Trieste could make his next start in the $100,000 Zia Park Distance Championship at a mile and an eighth Dec. 4.

Mr. Trieste began his win streak in September 2004, when he won the Albuquerque Derby. From there, he won three allowances, a stakes at Sun Ray Park, and the Kachina. Overall, he has won 9 of 17 starts and $267,692. Mr. Trieste races for Richard Lueck.