Five registered New Mexico-bred Thoroughbreds — Monterey Secret, West Dawn, Snow In The North, Jet N G, and Slammed — are hoping to make a mark at Zia Park on Tuesday, as the track presents its annual “Land of Enchantment” Day.
First post time is set for 12 p.m. (MST). A total of seven stakes will be contested, headed by the 1 1/16-mile, $250,000 Zia Park Derby for 3-year-olds.
Monterey Secret is one of six entered in Tuesday’s 6-furlong, $75,000 Zia Park Sprint. A 4-year-old son of Monterey Jazz trained by Robert Rivera for owner Cesar Mendoza, the chestnut gelding is coming off of a fourth-place finish, four lengths behind winner Strawberry Whisky, in the 6-furlong, $100,000 New Mexico Cup Sprint Championship (R) at Zia Park on October 31.
Jet N G, West Dawn and Snow In The North three of the nine entered in Tuesday’s 1 1/8-mile, $75,000 Zia Park Championship. Jet N G is a homebred 6-year-old Mr. Trieste gelding trained by Gary Cross for owner Maurcenia Cross. Jet N G will be stretching out in distance off of his one-length victory in the 1-mile, $100,000 Rocky Gulch New Mexico Cup Championship (R).
A 4-year-old son of Train Rider Blues, West Dawn races for Marina Velazquez from the barn of Filiberto Quiroz. The gelding has earned $79,786 from 12 starts this year, and his three wins include a 1 1/4-length victory in the 6 1/2-furlong, $50,000 Jack Cole Stakes (R) for New Mexico-breds at SunRay Park in May.
Snow In The North is a 5-year-old son of the A.P. Indy stallion Harris trained by Larry Henry for owner Guillermo Blanco. The bay gelding scored a neck victory in a 1-mile race for New Mexico-bred maiden $8,000 claimers at Zia Park on September 27.
Slammed (pictured) will be making her first start against open company in the 1 1/16-mile, $200,000 Zia Park Oaks for 3-year-old fillies. A 3-year-old daughter of the Bernardini stallion Marking trained by Todd Fincher for owners Fincher Racing LLC, Brad King, and Suzanne Kirby, the filly has dominated the New Mexico-bred distaff division this season. The filly brings in a five-race win streak that includes the 5 1/2-furlong, $50,000 Sierra Starlet Stakes (R) at Ruidoso Downs, the 6 1/2-furlong, $100,000 Petticoat Stakes (R) and 6 1/2-furlong, $100,000 Carlos Salazar Stakes (R) at Albuquerque Downs, and the 1-mile, $100,000 Peppers Pride New Mexico Cup Distaff Championship (R) at Zia Park.