Page 91 - NM Summer 2023

ZIA PARK
Story by Michael Cusortelli
ZIA PARK MEET RECAP
Zia Park ended its 2022 Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse meet on December 20.
Highlights from Zia Park’s 48-day
season included the 18th annual New Mexico Cup Day on October 30, and the track’s annual all-Thoroughbred “Land of Enchantment Day” program on November 22. New Mexico Cup Day featured 12 state-bred stakes -- eight for Thoroughbreds and four
for Quarter Horses -- and offered $1,816,445 in purses. The richest New Mexico Cup race, the 350-yard $350,730 New Mexico Cup Futurity-RG2 for state-bred Quarter Horses, was won by MRB Racing LLC’s First Lady On Canvas. Xavier Rodriguez trained and Esgar Ramirez rode the homebred daughter of Champion First Moonflash.
Zia Park reported that a total of $934,482 was wagered on the 12 New Mexico Cup races, including $854,625 off track.
“Land of Enchantment Day” featured seven stakes with purses totaling $900,000. Gary Barber’s Perfect Flight, a Kentucky- bred Uncle Mo colt trained by Peter
Miller, won the 1 1/16-mile $250,000 Zia Park Derby for 3-year-olds; while Three Chimneys Farm’s Bella Runner, a homebred
daughter of Gun Runner trained by Steve Asmussen, won the 1 1/16-mile $250,000 Zia Park Oaks for sophomore fillies. Ricardo Santana Jr. rode both winners.
Zia Park reported that a total of $976,829 was wagered on the 10 “Land of Enchantment Day” races, including $941,278 off track.
Luis Fuentes was Zia Park’s leading Thoroughbred jockey with 45 wins from 154 mounts, seven more than runner-up Alfredo Juarez Jr., who rode the winners of 38 races from 190 mounts. Fuentes was also the meet’s leading rider in mount earnings at $1,125,966.
Todd Fincher led all Zia Park Thoroughbred trainers with 29 wins from 120 starters, two more than runner-up Dick “Flaco” Cappelucci, who won 27
races from 116 starters. Fincher also was
the track’s leading trainer in starter earnings at $1,036,381.
Tom and Sandy McKenna’s Judge
Lanier Racing LLC was Zia Park’s leading Thoroughbred owner with five wins from 20 starters; there were nine runners-up with four
wins. Judge Lanier Racing was the track’s leading Thoroughbred owner in purse earnings at $173,996.
On the Quarter Horse side, Sergio Becerra Jr. led all Zia Park jockeys with
23 wins from 100 mounts, four more than runner-up Christian Ramos, who rode the winners of 19 races from 126 mounts. Noe Garcia Jr. was the meet’s leading rider in mount earnings at $673,724.
Ramon Mendoza and Marco A. Flores were Zia Park’s leading Quarter Horse trainers with nine wins each, Mendoza from 46 starters and Flores from 40 starters. Todd Fincher topped all Quarter Horse trainers in starter earnings at $260,255.
Zia Park’s leading Quarter Horse owner Cream of the Crop Inc. won four races from as many starters; there were seven runners-up with three wins. The partnership of Pierre
J. Amestoy Jr., Leslie Amestoy and Roger K. Beasley was the meet’s leading Quarter Horse owner in purse earnings at $190,450.
Zia Park’s 2023 meet is scheduled to run 30 days from November 3-December 20.
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