Zia Park: Cataflying will be winging from the rail in closing-day feature
Cataflying has the speed to take advantage of his rail post Tuesday, when he starts in a 2-year-old allowance for New Mexico-breds at Zia Park. The six-furlong race will go as the 10th, and it is the highlight of the final card of the meet. The field of nine also includes stakes winner Dandy Don Who.
Cataflying was favored to win his stakes debut in the $152,000 New Mexico Cup Juvenile in his last start Oct. 27, but he finished second after dueling through a 43-second half-mile. Cataflying broke from post 10 in the six-furlong race, in which he was beaten three-quarters of a length, and now draws what arguably might be a better post for him.
There is speed to Cataflying’s outside Tuesday, but he showed a superior turn of foot in the New Mexico Cup. Cataflying has already had success from the inside at Zia, when he won his career debut from post 2 on Oct. 14. Cataflying set the pace throughout in the 5 1/2-furlong race run on a good track, to prevail by 12 lengths.
Henry Dominguez trains Cataflying and has given the mount to Enrique Gomez. Cataflying races for the partnership of Philip Troost and Solitaire Stable.
Dandy Don Who was third in the New Mexico Cup Juvenile and back in April accounted for a division of the Copper Top Futurity at Sunland Park. He has natural speed and might get a tracking trip behind Cataflying.
Evans to take training title
Justin Evans long ago wrapped up the Zia training title. He had 55 wins from 219 starters through Friday, with stable earnings of $953,110. The meet’s second leading Thoroughbred trainer is Dominguez, with 27 wins from 135 starters through Friday. Evans won last year’s title at Zia with 38 wins, three more than Dominguez. Evans plans to base next at Sunland Park, which opens Friday.
Jockey Ry Eikleberry through Friday led all Thoroughbred riders in wins at Zia, with 52 from 261 mounts, which have earned $1,031,813 The second-leading rider is Alfredo Juarez Jr., with 41 wins through Friday.