Zia Park: Safe Trip stalks hot pace, gets up in Premiere Cup Handicap

Safe Trip, who spent his summer racing in New Jersey, became a stakes winner in New Mexico on Sunday when he overtook Streakin’ Mohican by a head in the $100,000 Premiere Cup Handicap at Zia Park. The six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up was the first stakes of the season at the Hobbs, N.M., track.

Safe Trip invaded from Monmouth Park, where he had finished a respective second and third in a pair of optiona1 $60,000 claiming races in July and August. In his first start at Zia, he stalked a hot pace set by Streakin’ Mohican, who put up fractions of 21.89 seconds for the opening quarter and 43.70 for the half-mile. Safe Trip, who moved closer to the hot pace midway through the race, covered the distance on a track rated fast in 1:08.41.

Miguel Hernandez rode the winner for Molly Morris and Raymond Simpson and trainer Weston Martin. Safe Trip has now won 4 of 16 starts and $214,837. He is a 5-year-old by Tale of the Cat.

Imco Spirit finished third in the Premiere, 2 1/2 lengths behind Streakin’ Mohican. Alsvid, the starting highweight, was scratched from the Premiere.