A. P. Zona gets past Driller to win River Rock Casino

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - A. P. Zona got up in the last jump to edge Driller by a head in the $50,000 River Rock Casino Handicap at Hastings on Saturday.

He paid $3.40 for his win in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds.

With Enrique Gonzalez aboard, A. P. Zona settled early while Fall At Last set interior fractions of 22.16 and 45.58 seconds. A. P. Zona looked like he might blow away the field when he moved into serious contention on the second turn. However, he had to go four wide while Driller, who stalked the leader from along the rail, moved to the two path and responded with a strong move of his own. Driller held a slight advantage midstretch, but couldn’t resist the final surge by A. P. Zona. Fall At Last held on to finish a clear third.

The final time was 1:1610.

The son of Creative Cause was coming off an easy win in the $50,000 Jim Coleman Province in his first start for trainer Phil Hall.

“This one was a heart stopper,” Hall said. “I’m glad it went for us. I only had him for a week prior to his win in the Coleman and I’ve learned he’s a cool horse. He’s laid-back in the mornings, but brings it in the afternoons.”

A. P. Zona is owned by Peter Redekop, who claimed the horse for $40,000 out of a winning race at Santa Anita on March 9.