Champion Wascallywittlewabbit, under jockey Benito Bacca, winning this third consecutive Zia 870 Championship on Sunday at Ruidoso Downs Racetrack & Casino.

© Bailey Ivey / Ruidoso Downs

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—AUGUST 7, 2022–Reining AQHA Racing Champion Distance Horse Wascallywittlewabbit got his fourth consecutive stakes win on Sunday when he defeated Heza Classy Now by 2-1/2 lengths in the $50,000 Zia 870 Championship at Ruidoso Downs Racetrack & Casino. This is the thrid straight Zia 870 Championship win for the gelding. 

Away alertly under jockey Benito Bacca, Wascallywittlewabbit cleared the field early, saved ground of the turn and held sway while completing the 870 yards in :44.438 seconds, a 107 speed index. The 7-year-old son of champion sire Heza Motor Scooter equaled his own Ruidoso track record of :44.438, set August 1, 2021.

Trainer Michael Joiner conditions the 14-time winner for owner Rogers Farms.  Bred in New Mexico by Mike Weatherly, from the Rabbits Rainbow mare Rabbits N Diamonds, Wascallywittlewabbit picked up $30,000 today to push his earnings mark to $374,188.

With a 3-for-3 record in 2022, Wascallywittlewabbit's other stakes wins this season are the Remington Park Distance Championship Stakes (G1), and Pauls Valley Stakes (G2).

Starting off an allowance win on July 23, runner-up Heza Classy Now chased the leader throughout to earn $10,000 for second. Toby Keeton named jockey Bryan Candanosa to ride the Rock Solid Jess 4-year-old for owner-breeders Sissie and Bob McClure.  A winner of four races Heza Classy Now has earned $74,101.

Pierre and Leslie Amestoy, Jr. and Roger Beasley's Freedom Flash was four-lengths back to earn $5,000 for third. Alfredo Juarez, Jr. had the riding call on the 6-year-old son of leading sire First Moonflash for trainer Todd Fincher. The graded stakes winning New Mexico homebred has banked $259,051.

Why Buy The Cow, Roll Big River and Dragon On Ice completed the field.