Zia Park: Vamoose outfights Imco Spirit by head in Veteran

Vamoose edged favorite Imco Spirit late for a head win in the $55,000 Veteran at Zia Park in Hobbs, N.M., on Saturday. The 1 1/16-mile race served as the local prep for next month’s $200,000 Zia Park Distance Championship.

Vamoose ($21.60) tracked the pace in the third in the Veteran, as Quiet Again led the field through an opening quarter in 24.81 seconds, then was overtaken by Imco Spirit after a half-mile in 49.04. Vamoose rallied through the stretch and covered the distance on a fast track in 1:43.06.

Enrique Gomez rode the winner for Everest Stables and trainer Henry Dominguez.

Dominguez also trains Imco Spirit, who holds both the six-furlong and 1 1/8-mile track records at Zia.

Vamoose, a 4-year-old son of Petionville, has now won two stakes in his last three starts, the other being the $50,000 Ruidoso Thoroughbred Championship at a1 1/16 miles in September. Overall, he is 5 for 14 for earnings of $124,245.