Racing


Victor Diaz's Dan The Flashman Prevails in $50,000 Zia 870 Championship
Dan The Flashman (inside), under jockey Jose Enrique Ortiz, holds off Weappear to win the $50,000 Zia 870 Championship on Sunday at Ruidoso Downs.

© Jake Rogers / Ruidoso Downs
Victor Diaz's Dan The Flashman Prevails in $50,000 Zia 870 Championship

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—JULY 28, 2019—Victor Diaz's Dan The Flashman held off a late surge from the Nancy Summers-owned and -trained Weappear, the only thoroughbred in the race, to win the $50,000 Zia 870 Championship by a decreasing head on Sunday at Ruidoso Downs, while posting a :46.377 time.

The Tony Sedillo-owned and -trained D E Wagons Strawfly, a 10-year-old gelding, was two lengths behind Weappear for third.

The Jose Enrique Ortiz-ridden Dan The Flashman made a four-wide move on the turn to gain the lead and appeared to have the race in hand until Weappear made his late bid.

Weappear was also a late-running second in the 2018 Zia 870 Championship.

Dan the Flashman, a four-year-old gelding by leading sire First Moonflash, came off a game head win in an 870-yard allowance race at Ruidoso Downs. The Martin Orona Jr. trainee won back-to-back 870-yard allowance races at Zia Park last fall.

Dosi and Norma Alvarez bred the 4-year-old from the Dome (TB) mare Domeintchy (TB). He picked up $30,000 today to boost his bankroll to $94,628.

Runner-up Weappear is a Thoroughbred son of Devon Lane from the Hadif mare Reappear. The gray/roan gelding was ridden by Duane Sterling. Bred by Tony Pickard, DVM, Weappear earned $10,000 for the effort.

Multiple stakes winner D E Wagons Strawfly earned $5,000 for third. The son of Genuine Strawfly is from the Calligrapher mare Wagon Maiden. Mauro Salcedo was aboard the earner of nearly $585,000. Double Eagle Ranch is the breeder.

El Chirrionero, Regards Miracle, Amsterdams Big Daddy, Dm Nate Dog and De Desperado completed the field.

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Marcus Medallion (#2) holds off Ryansmanonthemoon in the $50,000 Zia Handicap Saturday afternoon at Ruidoso Downs.