Von Hemel takes third shot at Zia Park Oaks

Trainer Donnie Von Hemel hopes the third time’s the charm in the $300,000 Zia Park Oaks on Wednesday, when he sends out Ready to Confess and Ruby Sioux. Von Hemel ran second in the inaugural Zia Park Oaks in 2013 with Gold Medal Dancer, then returned last year and was third with Sweet Opportunity.

“We feel like we’re knocking on the door and need to get it done,” said Von Hemel.

The Zia Park Oaks, at 1 1/16 miles, will anchor a card of nine stakes worth a collective $1.2 million. There are six stakes for Thoroughbreds, including the $200,000 Zia Park Derby, and three for Quarter Horses. The program, called Land of Enchantment Day, will start at 12:15 p.m. Mountain. The Zia Park Oaks is slotted as the 10th race, with a post of 4:15 p.m.

Von Hemel has a division of horses at Remington Park in Oklahoma City, and he said the track’s proximity to Zia, which is in Hobbs, N.M., was one reason he has often targeted the Zia Park Oaks.

“It fits well if you’re at Remington,” Von Hemel said. “It’s a good race, a nice purse.”

Ready to Confess will be looking for her first stakes win off a pair of stakes placings. She was second in the $200,000 Remington Park Oaks in her last start, Sept. 25, and before that race was second in the Grade 3 Iowa Oaks on June 30 at Prairie Meadows. Joe Rocco Jr. has the mount for breeder-owner Pin Oak Stable.

Ruby Sioux enters off back-to-back allowance wins at Remington. She will be making her stakes debut Wednesday.

“She’s won three out of her last four,” Von Hemel said. “She hasn’t run in stakes company yet. You have to give them a chance when they’re running that well.”

Luis Quinonez has the mount on Ruby Sioux for breeder-owner Jeanne Bruce.

The complete 10-horse field for the Zia Park Oaks, from the rail with riders: Coniah, Kent Desormeaux; Eileen’s Girl, Martin Garcia; Victress, Gabriel Saez; Mimi’s Money, Chya Johnstone; Ready to Confess, Rocco; Family Tree, Florent Geroux; Fried Pickles, Enrique Gomez; Ruby Sioux, Quinonez; Land Over Sea, Mario Gutierrez; and K P Wildcat, Tyler Baze.

O’Neill runners due Monday

Trainer Doug O’Neill has entered Land Over Sea in the Zia Park Oaks and Semper Fortis in the Zia Park Derby, and he said last week both horses are scheduled to fly in from Southern California on Monday.

Other horses from Southern California in the Zia entries for Wednesday include Rockport Kat, in the $75,000 Sprint for owner-trainer John Sadler; Dalmore, who is part of the field for the Zia Derby for trainer Keith Desormeaux; and Eileen’s Girl, entered in the Oaks by trainer Peter Eurton.

Invaders from the East include a handful of runners from the barn of trainer Larry Jones. He will saddle Chief Istan in the Sprint; Cinnamon Spice in the $75,000 Distaff; and No Distortion in the Zia Derby.

There are also several horses shipping in from Remington, among them Grade 3 winners Smack Smack and Code West for the $150,000 Zia Park Distance Championship.

“What a great day of racing,” said O’Neill.

◗ Peter Berry has been hired as announcer for the upcoming Quarter Horse meet at Louisiana Downs, said Trent McIntosh, the track’s director of operations. The season opens in January. John McGary is the announcer for the Thoroughbred meet at Louisiana Downs.

◗ The New Mexico Racing Commission will have a meeting Monday in Albuquerque. The meeting begins at 8:30 a.m. Mountain.

◗ Retama Park near San Antonio will close out its Thoroughbred meet Saturday.