Page 75 - NM Spring 2019

ZIA PARK
ZIA PARK MEET RECAP
127 starters, four more than Todd Fincher, who saddled the winners of 25 winners from 112 starters. Fincher led all Zia Park Thoroughbred trainers with purse earnings of $931,170.
Tom and Sandy McKenna’s Judge Lanier Racing was Zia Park’s leading Thoroughbred owner with 16 wins from 136 starters, four more than Harry L. Veruchi, who won 12 races from 35 starters. Judge Lanier Racing also topped Zia Park’s Thoroughbred owner’s standings with purse earnings of $396,795.
On the Quarter Horse side, Esgar Ramirez led all Zia Park jockeys with 22 wins from 128 mounts, nine more than runners-up Adrian Ramos and Tanner Thedford, who each rode the winners of 13 races. Ramirez also led in mount earnings with $759,988.
Jesus Carrete was Zia Park’s leading Quarter Horse trainer with 17 wins from 70 starters, two more than Blane Wood, who sent out 15 winners from 47 starters. Carrete also led all trainers in purse earnings at $636,771.
Zia Park’s leading Quarter Horse owner, Diamond Racing Stables, won seven races from 31 starters, two more than runners-up Pedro Carrillo and Victor Diaz, who won five races each. Diamond Racing Stables also led all Quarter Horse owners in purse earnings with $287,042.
Zia Park’s 2019 meet starts Sept. 21. The 53-day season runs through Dec. 18.
Zia Park in Hobbs ended its 53-day Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse season on Dec. 19.
Zia Park’s annual “Land of Enchantment Day” program was held on Wed., Nov. 21. The track presented a 10-race card that included seven stakes, topped by the 1 1/16- mile, $250,000 Zia Park Oaks for 3-year-old Thoroughbred fillies, and the 1 1/16-mile, $250,000 Zia Park Derby for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds. Purses for the all-Thorough- bred program totaled $1,103,000.
Cosmic Burst, a bay daughter of Violence owned by Norma Lee Stockseth and Todd Dunn, scored a 1 1/4-length victory in the
Zia Park Oaks. Ridden by Richard Eramia for trainer Donnie Von Hemel, the Pennsylvania- bred filly covered 1 1/16-miles in 1:42.97 while earning her fifth win in 11 starts.
Zayat Stables LLC’s Nanoosh, a Kentucky- bred son of Paynter trained by Robertino Diodoro, won the Zia Park Derby. Ridden by Orlando Mojica, the homebred bay colt won by 3/4-length in 1:41.96 while posting his fourth win in seven outs and first stakes victory.
Zia Park reported all-sources mutual handle for Land of Enchantment Day at $1,707,381, of which $1,662,633 was wagered at off-track sites. The off-track handle marked a 3-percent increase over the 2017 figure of $1,617,323.
Zia Park’s annual “New Mexico Cup Day” took place on Sunday, Nov. 4 and featured a dozen stakes restricted to state-breds, eight for Thoroughbreds and four for Quarter Horses. An all-sources total of $531,685 was wagered on the 12-race program, of which $435,305 was bet off-track.
Enrique Barrera’s Woodys Copy Cat, a daughter of Woodbridge trained by Cynthia Gonzalez, won New Mexico Cup’s richest race, the 400-yard, $315,450 New Mexico Cup Futurity (RG2). Manuel Gutierrez rode the filly, who banked the $151,416 winner’s share of the purse.
Also on New Mexico Cup Day, Thunder Dome won the card’s richest race for Thoroughbreds, the 1-mile, $180,000 Rocky Gulch New Mexico Cup Championship (R) for 3-year-olds and older. Alfredo Juarez rode the chestnut Dome gelding for owners W.D. Carson Sr., M.H. Carson, and Leach Racing LLC, and trainer Dallas Barton.
Shane Laviolette was Zia Park’s leading Thoroughbred jockey, as he rode the winners
of 30 races from 165 mounts, two more than runner-up Ry Eikleberry, who won 28 races from 161 mounts. Laviolette also led all Thoroughbred riders with mount earnings of $887,816.
E. Henry Dominguez topped all Thoroughbred trainers with 29 winners from
by Michael Cusortelli
SPRING 2019 73