Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
She’s a Julie in good spot
Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen and jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. teamed to win five stakes races on a Remington Park card in September, and some of the horses who helped make for that outstanding afternoon – including She’s a Julie and Adventurous Lady – will be back for them Wednesday at Zia Park.
She’s a Julie goes as the probable favorite in the $250,000 Zia Park Oaks, while Adventurous Lady will be looking for her fourth straight win when she starts in the $75,000 Princess. The races are among seven Thoroughbred stakes making up the $1 million Land of Enchantment card at Zia.
She’s a Julie won the Grade 3, $200,000 Remington Park Oaks in her last start Sept. 30. She will face five others Wednesday with the defection of Secret Spice. Trainer Richard Baltas said last week that Secret Spice would not make the trip from Southern California and could run next in the Grade 1 La Brea at home at Santa Anita. With her scratch, She’s a Julie will break from post 6.
“The draw is good for her,” Asmussen said. “She’s pretty handy. I expect her to be strong the whole way.”
She’s a Julie could get an ideal tracking trip off Baydar and perhaps fellow Grade 3 winner Cosmic Burst.
Adventurous Lady, who could be an odds-on choice in the six-furlong Princess, began her streak when she won her maiden in a $100,000 division of the Texas Thoroughbred Futurity in her second start July 15 at Lone Star Park. She proceeded to win an allowance Sept. 7 at Remington Park, then won the $50,000 E.L. Gaylord Memorial at the same track in her most recent start Sept. 30. She earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 81 in the Gaylord.
“It was her best race to date,” Asmussen said. “I think her confidence is where it needs to be with the success she’s had. We’re hoping we’re in the right spot again.”
The Princess field also includes Watch Me Burn, an allowance winner Aug. 10 at Del Mar.
Forevamo in Zia Championship
Asmussen trainee Forevamo will start as one of the top contenders in the $150,000 Zia Park Championship, a handicap over 1 1/8 miles that also drew Grade 3 winners Shotgun Kowboy and Harlan Punch.
Forevamo exits the same Sept. 30 card as She’s a Julie and Adventurous Lady. He was second that afternoon in the $175,000 Governor’s Cup.
“I was pleased with his race at Remington,” Asmussen said. “He’s got plenty of back class and is capable of huge races. I think this is a good spot.”
Forevamo was a stakes winner at 2. Now 5, Forevamo has earned more than $400,000. He will break from post 5 under Santana.
Trainer Robertino Diodoro will counter with Patriots Rule, who is coming off a win in the $50,000 John Bullit at Canterbury.
“He needs pace to run at,” Diodoro said. “He’s a nice old horse, worked great the other day, loves the mile and an eighth. It all comes down to pace. He definitely needs pace to run at.”
Shotgun Kowboy won the $175,000 Oklahoma Classics Cup for statebreds Oct. 19 at Remington and before that he was third in the Governor’s Cup. Harlan Punch won the $50,000 Veterans in his last start Oct. 29 at Zia.
Stallwalkin’ Dude tops Sprint
Stallwalkin’ Dude, the stalwart sprinter who long had been based in New York, has been spending some time in New Mexico of late and will see action Wednesday in the $100,000 Zia Park Sprint.
The race will be run over six furlongs.
Stallwalkin’ Dude has made three starts in New Mexico, including a second by a neck in both a Zia allowance Sept. 24 and the track’s $50,000 Roadrunner in his most recent out Sept. 16. Justin Evans has been training Stallwalkin’ Dude in this region for his co-owner and prior trainer, David Jacobson.
The nine-time stakes winner K P Wildcat will be looking to win the $100,000 Zia Distaff for the second year in a row Wednesday when she meets Alliford Bay, who is looking to win her fifth straight stakes. The field of eight includes multiple stakes winner Kell Paso and Asmussen trainee Chauncey, who removes blinkers.
Asmussen-trained Stupify could go favored in the $75,000 Zia Park Juvenile at six furlongs. He was third in the $75,000 Kip Deville at the same distance in his last start Sept. 30 at Remington. Santana has the mount from post 3. Diodoro will counter with Oil Money in post 6. “I love the outside draw,” he said.
Asmussen and Santana also will team in the $250,000 Zia Park Derby with Grade 3 Super Derby winner Limation.