Fincher pointing Hustle Up, Sheriff Brown to Zia Derby

Zia Park leading trainer Todd Fincher could have starters in five of the seven stakes making up the track’s $1 million Land of Enchantment card, led by Hustle Up and Sheriff Brown in the $250,000 Zia Park Derby.

The program is Nov. 27. It is the second richest card of the meet behind the $1.8 million New Mexico Cup.

Fincher, who is tied atop the Zia standings with Justin Evans, is coming off a strong New Mexico Cup. He won the program’s two richest races for Thoroughbreds, including the $185,000 Rocky Gulch with Hustle Up.

Hustle Up met older horses for the first time in the mile race. He broke from post 10 and after setting the pace fought for a three-quarter-length win. Hustle Up earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 81.

“He ran a really nice race against some very accomplished horses,” Fincher said. “He’s pretty tough when he gets the lead by himself.”

Fincher said there were a couple of reasons to point for the Zia Derby.

“It will be his last chance to run against 3-year-olds,” he said. “He’s got home-field advantage.

“And you never know, maybe he’ll get lucky and there won’t be much pace on that day.”

Hustle Up has used his frontrunning style to win seven stakes, including the $100,000 Mine That Bird Derby in February at Sunland Park. The race was run over the same 1 1/16mile distance as the Zia Derby. Hustle Up earned a career-high Beyer of 83 in the Mine That Bird Derby.

Jockey Roimes Chirinos has the mount for Dale F. Taylor Racing, Bobby McQueen, and Suzanne Kirby.

The up-and-coming Sheriff Brown is headed to the Zia Derby off a runner-up finish in a second-level allowance route Nov. 4 at Zia. The winner of that race, the 5-year-old Downtowner, came back to capture an optional $25,000 claiming route Nov. 12 at Zia.

Sheriff Brown is a halfbrother to Runaway Ghost, the winner of last year’s Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby. Both horses race for their breeder, Joe Peacock. Sheriff Brown has made one stakes start. He finished second by a head to Nitrous in the $106,000 Riley Allison Derby in February at Sunland. Earlier in the Zia meet he won a mile allowance, closing from 13 lengths off the pace under regular rider Ry Eikleberry.

The Zia Derby is the co-richest race on the Land of Enchantment card, sharing top billing with the $250,000 Zia Park Oaks.

Fincher said She’s My Gem will probably make her twoturn debut in the Zia Park

Oaks, but also is under consideration for the $100,000 Zia Park Distaff at six furlongs. She’s My Gem won her career debut Sept. 30 at Zia and one start later ran fourth in the track’s $50,000 Chaves County.

“She’s a really nice filly,” said Fincher.

She’s My Gem is a daughter of Into Mischief and is from the female family of millionaire Kelly Kip.

Fincher said Luck Be Mine and Competitive Idea, who both won their career debut by 7 1/2 lengths this meet at Zia, are pointing for the 2-year-old stakes on Land of Enchantment Day. Luck Be Mine, a daughter of Lookin At Lucky, goes in the $75,000 Zia Park Princess. Competitive Idea, a son of Competitive Edge, is targeting the $75,000 Zia Park Juvenile.

Fincher said stakes winner Secular Nation is on pace for the $100,000 Zia Park Sprint.

Sky Promise eyes Zia stakes

Sky Promise, the 2018 champion 3-year-old male in Canada, is on deck for the Land of Enchantment card at Zia Park.

Trainer Robertino Diodoro said Sky Promise is being pointed for the $150,000 Zia Park Distance Championship at a mile and an eighth. The horse is coming off a runner-up finish in the local prep, the $50,000 Veterans.

Sky Promise earned his Sovereign Award for a campaign in which he became the first horse to sweep Western Canada’s three major derbies: the Manitoba Derby at Assiniboia Downs, the Grade 3 Canadian Derby at Northlands Park, and the Grade 3 British Columbia Derby at Hastings.

Diodoro has another Land of Enchantment runner in Silver Ride, who goes in the $100,000 Zia Sprint. Silver Ride won the Bienvenidos Stakes at Turf Paradise on Oct. 12, with a Beyer of 85. He is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Eskimo Kisses.

Diodoro won last year’s Zia Derby with Nanoosh and Zia Juvenile with Oil Money.

Diodoro to be at Sam Houston

Diodoro, who ranks as North America’s third leading trainer in wins in 2019, is branching out. He said he will have a division of horses at Sam Houston for the first time when the Texas track opens in January.

Diodoro will have a 24-horse division. He said the purse increase at the track was a draw, as was its location. Diodoro has a number of horses for both Charles Garvey, who has offices in Houston, and Mike Sisk, a businessman based in Dallas.

Diodoro will also winter at Delta Downs, Oaklawn Park, and Turf Paradise.