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Grade 1 Zia Park Championship Headlines Stakes-Laden Sunday Card at the New Mexico Track
Grade 1 winner Flash Bak will ship from the West Coast for Saturday's 440-yard, $100,000 Zia Park Championship (G1) at Zia Park.

© Amber Mendez
Grade 1 Zia Park Championship Headlines Stakes-Laden Sunday Card at the New Mexico Track

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

HOBBS, NM–DECEMBER 7, 2022–Five stakes, topped by the 440-yard, $100,000 Zia Park Championship (G1), headline Zia Park's 10-race program this Sunday.

Post time for the first race on the card, the 870-yard, $75,000 King Rick Rack Stakes (G3), is set for 12 p.m. (MST).

The Zia Park Championship has drawn nine entries, headed by Valeriano Racing Stables' Flash Bak and Debbie Grimes' Famous Chief. A 4-year-old Moonin The Eagle gelding trained by Santos Carrizales Jr. and the runner-up in last year's $600,000 Champion of Champions (G1) at Los Alamitos, Flash Bak ships in from California, where he ran second, 2 1/2 lengths behind winner and champion Empressum, in the August 28, 400-yard Go Man Go Handicap (G1).

Flash Bak drew post 5 and will be ridden by Juan Pulido.

Famous Chief is a 4-year-old son of One Famous Eagle trained by Jason Driver. The gelding will be making his first start since September 25, when he ran second, three-quarters of a length behind winner and reigning world champion Danjer, in the 440-yard, $300,000 Albuquerque Fall Championship (G1).

Famous Chief will be making his first career start at Zia Park. The gelding has won seven of 19 starts -- including three of five at the 440-yard distance -- and he has banked $326,477. He drew post 9 and will be ridden by Adrian Ramos.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments:
  1. Tactical Fire (Luis A. Flores-Garcia)
  2. Uncle Eds Idea (Alonso Rivera)
  3. Alamo Lake (Sergio Becerra Jr.)
  4. Elmer (Alfredo Sigala)
  5. Flash Bak (Juan Pulido)
  6. Perfect Practice (Jacob Enriquez)
  7. No Mires A La Luna (Noe Garcia Jr.)
  8. Dr Tool (Jesus Canales)
  9. Famous Chief (Adrian Ramos)

Also on Sunday, a dozen aged sprinters are entered in the 400-yard, $75,000 Lovington Stakes (G2).

Hesa Party Wagon a 4-year-old Hes Relentless gelding owned and trained by Juan Manuel Baeza, drew post 3 and will be ridden by Christian Ramos. Hesa Party Wagon is coming off of of a third-place run, two lengths behind winner Instygator, in the November 26, 440-yard Refrigerator Invitational Championship (G1) at Lone Star Park. He's won three of his four starts at Zia Park, including the 350-yard, $75,000 James Isaac Hobbs Stakes (G3) on October 9.

Other contenders include Zitro Racing Corp.'s Jet Black Grace, a sophomore son of Jet Black Patriot trained by Santos Carrizales Jr. The black gelding made his official season debut with a half-length victory as the odds-on favorite in the November 9, 400-yard B.F. Phillips Jr. Stakes RG3 for Texas-breds at Lone Star Park.

Jet Black Grace drew post 7 and will be ridden by Juan Pulido.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments:
  1. Mitey Political (Gerardo Vera)
  2. Valiant Stars (Noe Garcia Jr.)
  3. Hesa Party Wagon (Christian Ramos)
  4. Ferarri Tyme (Alfredo Sigala)
  5. Warning (Sergio Becerra Jr.)
  6. Vamoosing (Luis Martinez)
  7. Jet Black Grace (Juan Pulido)
  8. Valentino Pete (Alonso Rivera)
  9. Won Famous Dash (Francisco R. Ramirez Jr.)
  10. Pops First Lady (Adrian Ramos)
  11. AE-Jess Botticelli (Edgar Martinez)
  12. AE-Good Reason Cartel (Mario Delgado)

Sunday's 440-yard, $100,000 Southwest Juvenile Championship Stakes (G1), has drawn nine 2-year-olds. Early favorite San Lorenzo Ivory, a gelded son of Ivory James trained by Santos Carrizales Jr. for owner Rogelio Marquez Jr., brings in a three-race win streak that includes a three-quarter length victory in the November 19, $64,000 Texas Classic Juvenile Stakes at Lone Star Park.

San Lorenzo Ivory was a $52,000 purchase at last year's Heritage Place Yearling Sale in Oklahoma City. The gelding drew post 7 and will be ridden by Juan Pulido.

Eleven state-bred distaffers are entered in Sunday's 400-yard, $125,000 New Mexico Fillies & Mares Championship (RG1). Mi Moonflash, a homebred 5-year-old daughter of champion First Moonflash trained by Todd Fincher for owners Pierre Amestoy, Leslie Amestoy, and Roger K. Beasley, has won her last two starts, including the 350-yard, $55,000 Champagne Lane Stakes (R) at Albuquerque Downs.

Mi Moonflash drew post 9 and will be ridden by Alfredo Sigala.

Sunday's 870-yard, $75,000 KIng Rick Rack Stakes (G3), has attracted a field of six distance specialists. Erica Carreon's Nicos First Cartel, is coming off of a second-place finish, a half of a length behind winner Dance The Dust Off, in the October 22, $108,000 Cox Ranch Distance Challenge Championship (G1) at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Nicos First Cartel drew post 4 and will be ridden by Alejandro Medellin for trainer Jesus Carrete.

All Zia Park races can be seen at Q-Racing Video.com.