The fourth edition of Zia Park’s Land of Enchantment Day produced record setting business numbers as an all-time track record of $2,091,079 was wagered on the 10-race card. The new handle mark smashed the former single-day wagering record by more than 34%. Additionally, wagering records for the largest amount handled on a single race ($451,347 on the Zia Park Oaks) and in a Pick 4 pool ($84,023 on the late, all-stakes Pick 4) were established on the Land of Enchantment card.
The featured $300,000 Zia Park Oaks produced the expected result with the favored multiple graded stakes winner Family Tree ($4.60) taking the race by a widening 8 1/2 length margin under jockey Florent Geroux. The three-year old filly by Smart Strike is trained by Wayne Catalano and owned by Gary and Mary West and stopped the teletimer in 1:43.59.
KP Wildcat under Tyler Baze edged Ready to Confess for second while Kentucky Oaks (G1) runner-up and Breeders’ Cup Distaff runner Land Over Sea could do no better than seventh.
The supporting stakes on the card proved to be a big payday for owner Bryan Hawk, trainer Boyd Caster and jockey Luis Quinonez as they teamed up to post back to back upset scores with Pass the Buck ($16.40) in the $200,000 Zia Park Derby and Code West ($26.60) in the $150,000 Zia Park Championship. Pass the Buck closed from the back of the pack under Quinonez to outfinish Los Alamitos Derby (G2) runner-up Semper Fortis by a half-length while Code West took the field wire to wire in the Zia Park Championship, getting the best of 2016 Cornhusker (G3) victor Smack Smack by 1 1/2 lengths.
“This is the biggest day of racing in Zia Park’s twelve-year history,” said director of racing and racing secretary Fred Hutton. “The Land of Enchantment Day is now a firm fixture on the calendar and this is definitely out best turnout for quality and quantity so far and the results show. I want to thank the horsemen who supported the event, our dedicated team and racing fans who supported our betting card today.”
Zia Park’s 56-day thoroughbred/quarter horse meet runs through December 13 on a Saturday through Tuesday afternoon schedule.
Source: Zia Park
