Premiere Cup winner back at Zia

River Echo, who in his first start at Zia Park won its main race for sprinters, the $100,000 Premiere Cup, returns to action Sunday in the $55,000 Lea County. He is one of seven older horses in the 5 1/2-furlong race, which also drew up-and-coming stakes winner Kineticat Yankee.

River Echo came to Zia from Del Mar, and earned one of his best Beyer Speed Figures, a 94, for his clear win in the Premiere Cup. He stalked the pace in the six-furlong race run Sept. 12, and rolled to a 1 3/4-length win. River Echo could get a similar kind of stalking trip behind Kineticat Yankee, who has used his speed to win 4 of his 8 starts. Henry Dominguez trains River Echo, while Weston Martin will send out Kineticat Yankee.

Ducky Drake, a winner of 14 races and $452,939, will also get good support. He overtook Kineticat Yankee last out in a $40,000 optional claiming allowance at Zia and earned a Beyer Figure of 90. He is trained by Bart Hone.

* Noconi, a champion Quarter Horse who won his first start in two months in the Grade 2 Lovington at Zia Park on Nov. 7, is being pointed for the track's Grade 1, $150,000 Championship at 440 yards on Dec. 5, according to his trainer, Paul Jones.