Diodoro loaded for Zia stakes

Chief Know It All has left his new connections on the edge of their seats in his last two starts, having captured a pair of derbies in Canada by slim margins. He’ll attempt to make it three such wins in a row Wednesday in the $200,000 Zia Park Derby.

The Zia Derby is one of nine stakes on the $1.2 million Land of Enchantment card. The program is topped by the $300,000 Zia Park Oaks, which has drawn seven, including Proud and Fearless, Ever So Clever, and Sandy’s Surprise. The Zia Park Derby and Oaks, both at 1 1/16 miles, are among six Thoroughbred stakes on the program. The remaining three stakes are for Quarter Horses, including the $150,000 Zia Distance Championship, which drew reigning world champion Jessies First Down.

Chief Know It All became a stakes winner in August, when he won the Grade 3 Canadian Derby at Northlands in a slugfest on the front end, prevailing by a half-length in his first start at three turns. He then got up for a nose win in the Grade 3 British Columbia Derby at Hastings in his most recent out on Sept. 9. That race also was around three turns.

“He’s one of those horses, he only gives you what you ask, even in his works in the morning,” said Robertino Diodoro, who trains Chief Know It All. “It’s just his personality. He’s very laid back.

“He’s got a lot of heart to him. He’s a very big-hearted horse.”

Chief Know It All was a $100,000 claim in June at Churchill Downs by Rollingson Racing Stable, Randy Howg, Rick Wiest and Clayton Wiest. Following the British Columbia Derby, the horse was sent to Turf Paradise. On Nov. 15, he worked five furlongs from the gate there in 1:00.80.

“That’s kind of our home base in the winter,” Diodoro said. “After we left Hastings, we weren’t sure what direction we were going in. We had Zia on the map. We also thought it’s getting near the end of his 3-year-old year and we could wait until Oaklawn. The horse bounced back good out of the B.C. Derby and we decided to go to Zia.”

Rico Walcott has the mount on Chief Know It All in the Zia Derby. Ten horses were entered, but You’re to Blame has been scratched, according to a Zia Park official. In post order from the rail, the nine expected to run are: Untrapped, Horse Fly, Equator, Passed by Paul, P C Cowboy, Steely Resolve, Cedartown, General Council, and Chief Know It All.

Chief Know It All, who will attempt to give Diodoro his second Zia Derby win behind First Strike in 2011, is one of four stakes starters Diodoro will have on the card Wednesday.

He also has Way Striking in the $150,000 Zia Park Championship; Hammers Vision in the $75,000 Zia Park Sprint; and Summer House in the $75,000 Distaff, a race he won last year with D R C’s Pretty Sky.

Diodoro also will run a fifth horse on the card, with Redesign looking like a strong favorite in a maiden special weight for 2-year-olds. Diodoro said the horses all are scheduled to travel to New Mexico on Monday, from either Turf Paradise or the Evangeline Training Center near Lafayette, La.

American Dubai on vacation

American Dubai, a multiple stakes winner, was expected for the Zia Park Championship but instead is getting some time off, trainer Rodney Richards said. American Dubai last raced Sept. 24, finishing third to probable Championship favorite Iron Fist in the $175,000 Governor’s Cup at Remington.

“We’re wrapped up for the year,” Richards said. “I think you’ll probably see him back at Sunland.”

American Dubai won four consecutive races last meet at Sunland, including the $150,000 Sunland Park Handicap. He races for Richard Keith.

Date set for Sunland Derby

The Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby will be run March 25, 2018, Sunland Park announced. The winner will again earn 50 eligibility points toward the Kentucky Derby as part of a system administered by Churchill Downs.

The Sunland Derby, at 1 1/8 miles, is part of a $1.5 million card of stakes that includes the $200,000 Sunland Oaks. The local preps for the Sunland Derby are the $100,000 Riley Allison Derby on Jan. 28 and the $100,000 Mine That Bird Derby on Feb. 25. Another major race at the meet is the $150,000 Sunland Park Handicap on April 15.

Sunland opens on Dec. 15.

Diodoro, Pish plan for Oaklawn

Danny Pish, who is coming off the training title at Retama Park, said he will have a division of 15 horses at the Oaklawn meet, which starts racing in January and opens for training Monday. It’s been more than five years since he’s had horses stabled at the Hot Springs, Ark., track, and felt it was time to return.

“It’s about as strong as racing as there is in the winter in the country, and I’d been looking at it,” Pish said.

Pish also has divisions at Delta, Fair Grounds, Remington, and Sam Houston.

Robertino Diodoro will be returning to Oaklawn.

“We’ll start setting up the middle of December, about 25, 30 days before the meet starts,” Diodoro said.

Diodoro will have a 40-horse division at the meet, which will kickstart a big year for him. Diodoro is set to be married in 2018 to his fiancée, the former jockey Kristina Kenney.

◗ Louisiana Downs is seeking an 84-date Thoroughbred meet for 2018 from May 5-Sept. 26, and the request will be considered at a Monday meeting of the Louisiana Racing Commission.