Zia Park Derby: Dimatic gives Asmussen, Ortiz third stakes win of the afternoon

Dimatic finally got his derby.

After several close calls, the promising son of Gun Runner broke through with a stakes victory on Tuesday when he darted to a half-length win over Indispensable in the $300,000 Zia Park Derby.

It was another three lengths back in third to Chivalrous. Generous Tipper and Awesome Road were scratched from the Zia Derby.

Dimatic covered the 1 1/16 miles in track record time of 1:41.69, lowering the mark of 1:43.79 that Valence had set one race earlier in the $300,000 Zia Park Oaks. The record Valence broke had stood for 10 years, it was announced by Zia’s racecaller, John McGary.

Dimatic ($11.80) settled just off the pace set by Vlahos, who jumped out to lead the field through an opening quarter in 22.82 seconds and was pressured through a half-mile in 46.23. Alotaluck moved to the fore through six furlongs in 1:09.91 as Dimatic advanced, moved to the lead in the stretch, and went on to victory under jockey Jose Ortiz.

“Today he was fast and he finished it off,” said winning trainer Steve Asmussen. “Really solid tempo in there. He was within striking range, incurred a little traffic trouble at the quarter pole, and then accelerated nice to the wire.

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“He’s just another outstanding Gun Runner for the Winchells that gets better with time.”

Dimatic had brought home checks in five stakes for 3-year-olds prior to the Zia Derby. His highlight reel included runner-up finishes in the Grade 3 West Virginia Derby and $300,000 Texas Derby.

Dimatic came into the Zia Derby off a fourth-place finish in the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby on Sept. 29 at Remington Park.

“Just a few days short of two months on the time between these races and he responded really well to it,” said Asmussen.

Dimatic will now head to Oaklawn Park, said Asmussen.

Dimatic was one of three winners Asmussen and Ortiz had on the card of seven stakes Tuesday. Jaxon Traveler captured the $100,000 Zia Park Sprint and Reliable Source took the $100,000 Zia Park Princess. Asmussen had starters in all seven stakes. The nine horses he ran were saddled by longtime assistant Darren Fleming.

“I’m thankful for Darren Fleming traveling to run them, and Casey Lambert for his hospitality and help,” Asmussen said.

Lambert, a jockey turned trainer, housed the Asmussen runners in his stable at Zia.

* Plans for Jaxon Traveler are to be determined, said Asmussen.

“I will speak with Terry Finley and West Point and figure out exactly what to do next,” he said, “But obviously we’re extremely proud of a four stakes-win year with Jaxon Traveler.”

* Zia resumes racing on Friday.

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