Oaks again tops Zia Park stakes schedule
The $300,000 Zia Park Oaks will again serve as the richest race at the Hobbs, N.M., track when it has its third running on Thanksgiving Eve, Nov. 25. The Oaks is part of a 33-race, $4 million stakes schedule Zia announced on Monday, with 19 of the stakes for Thoroughbreds. Zia opens a 56-date mixed meet that also features Quarter Horses on Sept. 12.
The Zia Park Oaks, at 1 1/16 miles, will anchor the third annual Land of Enchantment program. The card features eight stakes worth $1.2 million, with six of those races for Thoroughbreds. Other races on the program include the $200,000 Zia Park Derby at 1 1/16 miles and the $150,000 Zia Park Championship for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles. The $100,000 Zia Park Distaff for fillies and mares at six furlongs and the inaugural $100,000 Zia Park Sprint for 3-year-olds and up at the same distance also will be part of Land of Enchantment Day.
The Oaks, Derby, Championship, and Distaff will be the final stakes in the $5 million Penn Gaming Racing Challenge offered by Zia’s parent company, Penn National Gaming.
Zia also has scheduled the annual $2 million New Mexico Cup card of 12 statebred stakes for Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses for Nov. 1. The program includes eight stakes for Thoroughbreds, led by the $180,000 Rocky Gulch and the $170,000 Peppers Pride.
| Day | Date | Race | Condition | Distance | Purse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun., | Sept. 13 | Premiere Cup Handicap | 3YO & UP | 6 furlongs | $55,000 |
| Mon., | Oct. 5 | Chaves County Stakes | F-M, 3YO & Up | 1 mile | $55,000 |
| Mon., | Oct. 12 | Permian Basin | F2YYO | 6 furlongs | $55,000 |
| Mon., | Oct. 12 | Governor’s Cup | 2YO | 6 furlongs | $55,000 |
| Sun., | Nov. 1 | Rocky Gulch | 3YO & Up* | 1 mile | $180,000 |
| Sun., | Nov. 1 | Peppers Pride | F-M, 3YO & Up* | 1 mile | $170,000 |
| Sun., | Nov. 1 | New Mexico Cup Sprint | 3YO & Up* | 6 furlongs | $170,000 |
| Sun., | Nov. 1 | New Mexico Cup Colts & Geldings | 3YO* | 6 furlongs | $140,000 |
| Sun., | Nov. 1 | New Mexico Cup Fillies | F 3YO* | 6 furlongs | $140,000 |
| Sun., | Nov. 1 | New Mexico Cup Juvenile | 2YO* | 6 furlongs | $140,000 |
| Sun., | Nov. 1 | New Mexico Cup Juvenile Fillies | F 2YO* | 6 furlongs | $140,000 |
| Sun., | Nov. 1 | New Mexico Cup Filly & Mare Sprint | F-M, 3YO & Up* | 6 furlongs | $130,000 |
| Mon., | Nov. 2 | Veterans Stakes | 3YO & Up | 1 1/16 miles | $55,000 |
| Wed., | Nov. 25 | Zia Park Oaks | F 3YO | 1 1/16 miles | $300,000 |
| Wed., | Nov. 25 | Zia Park Derby | 3YO | 1 1/16 miles | $200,000 |
| Wed., | Nov. 25 | Zia Park Championship | 3YO & Up | 1 1/8 miles | $150,000 |
| Wed., | Nov. 25 | Eddy County Stakes | 2YO* | 1 mile | $140,000 |
| Wed., | Nov. 25 | Zia Park Distaff | F-M, 3YO & Up | 6 furlongs | $100,000 |
| Wed., | Nov. 25 | Zia Park Sprint | 3YO & Up | 6 furlongs | $100,000 |
* - New Mexico-bred
