Southern Californians invade for Zia Park Derby, Oaks

The fields for Zia Park’s most prestigious races were drawn Wednesday, and Southern California invaders Jojo Warrior and Tonito M., are expected to start as the respective favorites in the $300,000 Zia Park Oaks and $200,000 Zia Park Derby when the races are run Nov. 26.

The races anchor the second annual $1.1 million Land of Enchantment card at Zia, which is located in Hobbs, N.M. There are seven stakes making up next Wednesday’s program, with five for Thoroughbreds. The program includes the $150,000 Zia Park Distance Championship in which prep winner Isn’t He Clever will meet shippers Blueskiesnrainbows, Broadway Empire and Code West.

Jojo Warrior will come into the 1 1/16-mile Oaks off a third-place finish to Untapable in the Grade 1 Cotillion at Parx on Sept. 20. Since the race, Untapable has won the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Jojo Warrior drew post 2 for the Zia Park Oaks, which will go as the eighth race with a scheduled post of 3:17 p.m. Mountain. Trainer Bob Baffert has given the mount to Martin Garcia.

The complete field from the rail with riders is: Thegirlinthatsong, Rafael Bejarano; Jojo Warrior, Garcia; Belleofthebeach, Irwin Rosendo; Dream Spinner, Alex Birzer; Shanon Nicole, Corey Nakatani; Cassatt, Kerwin Clark; and Taste Like Candy, Elvis Trujillo.

Tonito M. won the Oklahoma Derby in his last start. He drew post 3 for the Zia Park Derby, which will also be run over 1 1/16 miles. Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer has given the mount to Bejarano.

The complete field from the rail with riders is: Alsono, Ry Eikleberry; Bay of Biscay, Jorge Carreno; Tonito M., Bejarano; Proceed, Alfredo Juarez, Jr.; Alert Bay, Rico Walcott; Walt, Cliff Berry; Street Prancer, Nakatani; and Can the Man, Garcia.

The derby will go as the seventh race, with a post of 2:51 p.m.

The 11-race card will start at 12:15 p.m.

Zia introduced the Oaks last year as a vehicle to try and gain the New Mexico track its first graded Thoroughbred race. It was showcased on a stakes-filled weekend card but was moved to a Wednesday when a winter storm struck. Zia ended up realizing an all-sources live-handle record of $1.5 million, and this year the Wednesday date will stick. The program also shares the calendar with Penn National’s Holiday Racing Festival the night of Nov. 26, noted Fred Hutton, the director of racing for Zia.

Both tracks are owned by Penn National Gaming.

The other Thoroughbred stakes on the Land of Enchantment card are the $75,000 Zia Park Distaff, which drew Grade 2 winner Doinghardtimeagain, and the $140,000 Eddy County for 2-year-olds bred in New Mexico. The Quarter Horse offerings are the Grade 1 Championship for 3-year-olds and up, and the $150,000 New Mexico Fillies and Mares Championship.