Nine Remington horses will be scratched from Land of Enchantment card

The complexion of the $1 million Land of Enchantment card Wednesday at Zia Park changed dramatically on Friday, when it was confirmed by a track official that nine horses from the seven stakes would be scratched by stewards, including chief contenders in the $250,000 Zia Park Derby and $250,000 Zia Park Oaks. The move comes after three confirmed cases of equine herpesvirus at Remington Park in Oklahoma City.

Remington is the base of Lady Apple, the 3-5 morning-line favorite for the Zia Park Oaks, as well as Bankit, Sleepy Eyes Todd, and Tone Broke, who all were chief contenders in the Zia Park Derby, which originally drew a field of 10. All four horses will be scratched.

The first of Remington’s equine herpesvirus cases dates back to Nov. 12, when a 3-year-old filly was euthanized, and tests on Nov. 14 confirmed EHV-1. There were two more EHV-1 positives confirmed late Thursday by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, with one case in the original barn that was quarantined and the other in a new barn that is now under quarantine. Equine herpesvirus can be spread through nasal discharge or contact with contaminated surfaces, according to the Equine Disease Communication Center.

The New Mexico Racing Commission late Thursday instructed Zia to close its stable area off to horses from Remington. The directive is in place until further notice and also involves the Downs at Albuquerque, which is operating as a training center. Zia is the lone track conducting a meet right now in New Mexico.

Izzy Trejo, executive director of the commission, said the decision was made in conjunction with veterinarians with the New Mexico Livestock Board. It is for protection of horses, the interests of horsemen, and racing in the state, said Trejo. He said New Mexico wants to do everything possible to avoid another equine herpesvirus outbreak, which occurred a few years back at Sunland Park.

Mike Shamburg, racing secretary at Zia, said Friday morning that the Land of Enchantment program will go on as scheduled, with stewards to scratch the nine entered horses from Remington. They also include Lookin At Lee and Net Gain in the $150,000 Zia Park Distance Championship; Mt. Brave, who is 8-5 on the morning line for the $100,000 Zia Park Distaff; Bubba Bling, who is 3-2 on the morning line for the $75,000 Zia Park Juvenile; and Tiz Alluptome Now in the $100,000 Zia Park Sprint.

“We’re ready to go,” Shamburg said. “It’s a shame to lose horses, but you have to protect your horse population. Basically, that’s the bottom line.”

Shamburg said the move by the New Mexico Racing Commission protects two meets, with Zia closing in December and Sunland Park opening soon after, on Dec. 26.

The scratches include seven of the eight horses Remington leading trainer Steve Asmussen had on the Land of Enchantment card. Wasabi Girl, an Asmussen trainee who is 8-5 on the morning line for the $75,000 Zia Park Princess, will not be forced to scratch because she shipped in from Churchill Downs, said Shamburg. The other Remington trainers impacted are Miguel Silva, whose Sleepy Eyes Todd was coming off a bold runner-up finish in the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby, and Clinton Stuart, who was to saddle stakes winner Net Gain. The barns of the three trainers are not under quarantine at Remington.

The initial Remington barn to have an EHV-1 case was placed under a 14-day quarantine on Nov. 14, said Michael Herrin, assistant state veterinarian with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture. But with a second case in that barn, and now a new barn under quarantine, the 14-day timeline started over Thursday. For a quarantine to lift, there can be no new cases. Fever was not present in either of the new cases.

Remington has a horsemen’s town hall meeting on Monday. A spokesman for the track said in an email that Remington is “working with state veterinary oversight and have implemented appropriate protocols.”

Remington races through Dec. 15, the date of its $400,000 Springboard Mile. The race carries points for next year’s Kentucky Derby.

Delta Downs in Vinton, La., has closed its stable area to horses from Remington until further notice, said Chris Warren, director of racing for Delta. The policy was put in place Thursday, he told Daily Racing Form.

Fair Grounds in New Orleans is not accepting Remington Park horses at this time. Racing secretary Scott Jones said Friday that any horse who has been on the backside at Remington on or after Nov. 12 will not be allowed at the Fair Grounds until further notice. The Louisiana meet opens Thursday.

Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., which opens its stable area Monday, also will not be accepting horses from Remington at the present time, said Oaklawn director of racing Jed Doro. Oaklawn’s meet begins Jan. 24.

Sam Houston Race Park in Houston opens its stable area Dec. 3 for a meet that starts Jan. 10. On Friday morning, Frank Hopf, senior director of racing operations, said officials were discussing a potential shipping policy.