Santana wins Zia Derby, Oaks on pick-up mounts after Geroux injures ankle

Jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. swept the $250,000 Zia Park Derby and $250,000 Zia Park Oaks with pick-up mounts on Tuesday, when he rode Perfect Flight and Bella Runner in place of the originally named Florent Geroux.

Geroux said Tuesday he did not make the trip to New Mexico as he was nursing a sprained ankle from a Saturday incident at Churchill Downs. One of his mounts stumbled badly out of the gate and threw Geroux, and while the rider came back to win a race later on the card Saturday, he was off his mounts Sunday.

He felt it best not to travel on the ankle Tuesday, and said he is hopeful he could return to the saddle Wednesday or Thursday.

“I’m taking it day by day,” he said Tuesday.

Santana picked up a third stakes-winning mount from Geroux on Tuesday in How Did He Do That, who captured the $75,000 Zia Park Juvenile.

The Zia Park Derby anchored the annual Land of Enchantment Day in New Mexico. There were a total of seven stakes on Zia's card and the races were worth a cumulative $900,000.

Perfect Flight ($11.40) settled off the pace set by Apprehend, who took the field through fractions of 24.19 seconds for the opening quarter, 48.68 for the half-mile and 1:12.42 for six furlongs. Perfect Flight moved past the leader in the stretch and went on to a 2 3/4-length win. Both horses are trained by Peter Miller.

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Perfect Flight covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.31. He entered the race off a third-place finish in the Grade 2 Twilight Derby on Oct. 29 at Santa Anita.

Perfect Flight is a son of Uncle Mo who races for Gary Barber.

Great Escape finished third, a half-length behind Apprehend.

Bella Runner ($4.40) shuttled to a four-length win over Kirstenbosch in the Zia Park Oaks. It was another nose back in third to Corrina Corrina.

Bella Runner was with the pace through fractions of 24 seconds for the opening quarter, 47.75 for the half-mile and 1:11.87 for six furlongs. She covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.13.

Bella Runner is a daughter of Gun Runner and the Grade 1-winning mare Love and Pride. Steve Asmussen trains the Three Chimneys homebred and was winning the Zia Park Oaks for the second year in a row after capturing last season’s renewal with eventual Grade 1 winner Pauline’s Pearl.

Asmussen had a second stakes winner on the card with How Did He Do That in the Juvenile. The horse was a 2 1/2-length winner over Fleet of Flags. How Did He Do That covered six furlongs in 1:08.81. The son of Good Magic races for J. Kirk and Judy Robison.

Miller had a second stakes winner on the card when Samurai Charm ($2.40) picked up her second straight stakes at the meet in the $75,000 Zia Park Distaff. It came on the heels of her win in last month’s Chaves County. Samurai Charm was with the pace throughout while covering six furlongs in a blazing 1:07.68. Luis Fuentes was aboard for 2 1/2-length win over Our Iris Rose.

Soy Tapatio takes Distance Championship

Soy Tapatio ($6.20) drove to a length win over Logical Myth in the $100,000 Zia Park Distance Championship. It was another 7 1/2 lengths back in third to Mine That Star, who was a half-length clear of favorite and fourth-place finisher Tripoli.

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Soy Tapatio sat just off fractions of 23.84 seconds for the opening quarter, 47.51 for the half-mile and 1:10.48 for six furlongs before going on to cover the 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:47.18.

Orlando Mojica was aboard Soy Tapatio for trainer Robertino Diodoro. Soy Tapatio is by Not This Time and he races for the partnership of Rick Wiest, Clayton Wiest, Lana Wiest, and Gary Kropp.

* Flying Connection ($2.80) backed up a 15 1/4-length maiden special weight victory with a stakes win when she accounted for the $75,000 Princess for 2-year-old fillies. She was always prominent for a 3 1/4-length win over Diamonds Danzing.

Alfredo Juarez Jr. was aboard Flying Connection for trainer Todd Fincher. The daughter of Nyquist covered six furlongs on a fast track in 1:08.26.

* Juarez had a second stakes winner on the card when he guided Competitive Idea ($8.60) to a head victory over Empire of Gold in the $75,000 Zia Park Sprint. The winner covered the distance in 1:08.04. Juarez was aboard the son of Competitive Edge for trainer Dick Cappellucci.

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