J. Kirk and Judy Robison | Horse Racing Free Tips

Wagering And Purse Records Fall At Zia Park’s 2023 Meet

The 19th season of horse racing at Zia Park was a record setting one on several fronts with new standards set for average daily handle, purses and safety during the 30-day mixed Quarter Horse/Thoroughbred meet, the PENN Entertainment-owned track said in a release Thursday afternoon.

An average daily handle of $830,371 was up 72% from the 48-date meet in 2022 to set a new track record and was the highest daily handle recorded by a racetrack in the state of New Mexico since 2010. Live handle was up an equally impressive 47% from 2022. Five of the tracks ten all-time highest daily handles were recorded in 2023, all coming in the last 15 days of the meet.

Purses were a big reason in driving the average Thoroughbred field size to nearly nine horses per race (8.91) versus last year's 7.45 per race figure. Average daily overnight purses totaled $344,067, both a track and New Mexico record. Total average daily purses, including stakes, was $432,767.

Racing safety also set records with only two racing catastrophic injuries the entire meet resulting in a rate of 0.74 per 1000 starters–the lowest ever recorded for Zia Park and nearly 50% lower than the national average for dirt races as published by The Jockey Club's Equine Injury Database. There was one catastrophic injury during training which began Oct. 1.

“From all metrics the meet was a great success–records set for wagering, purses and in safety as well,” said Lauren Barrows, Vice President and General Manager. “We thank all our guests, horsemen and racing participants and team members for having a part in delivering those impressive numbers.”

Todd Fincher won his third straight training title, while jockey Luis Fuentes secured his second straight leading rider title. The leading Thoroughbred owners were J. Kirk and Judy Robison.

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Good Magic’s How Did He Do That Gets Best of Blanket Finish in Oklahoma Derby

In a mad dash to the wire, it was How Did He Do That (c, 3, Good Magic–Stormin Maggy, by Storm Cat) who got his nose in front on the line just ahead of late-rallying Red Route One (Gun Runner) and Tumbarumba (Oscar Performance) to win the GIII Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park Sunday night. The 44-1 outsider pressed pacesetting Ghost Hero (Shaman Ghost) through fractions of :23.57 and :48.05 with Tumbarumba just to his inside, while Red Route One was well back in the 12-horse field. How Did He Do That rushed up to put his nose in front just as Tumbarumba was finding room to run at the rail at the top of the lane. Those two foes were going head to head, while Red Route One had worked his way through the entire field and was producing a powerful late rally to bully his way between the two leaders in a dramatic blanket finish.

On a tour of midwest derbies, How Did He Do That was a dead-heat winner of the July 8 Iowa Derby. Sixth behind Tumbarumba in the Aug. 13 Ellis Park Derby, he was coming off a third-place effort in the Sept. 2 Super Derby.

How Did He Do That's dam Stormin Maggy is a half-sister to champion Afleet Alex (Northern Afleet). The mare, carrying a full-sibling to the winner, sold to Chris Nolan for $40,000 at the 2021 Keeneland November sale. That Good Magic filly RNA'd for $120,000 at the recently concluded Keeneland September sale.

How Did He Do That is the seventh graded stakes winner for Good Magic, whose son Mage took down this year's GI Kentucky Derby.

Sunday, Remington Park
OKLAHOMA DERBY-GIII, $400,000, Remington, 9-24, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:50.34, ft.
1–HOW DID HE DO THAT, 124, c, 3, by Good Magic
               1st Dam: Stormin Maggy (SP), by Storm Cat
                2nd Dam: Maggy Hawk, by Hawkster
                3rd Dam: Qualique, by Hawaii
   1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($190,000 Ylg '21 FTKOCT).
O-J Kirk & Judy Robison; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings
LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen; J-Stewart Elliott. $240,000.
Lifetime Record: 14-4-1-1, $562,553. Werk Nick Rating: A+.
   Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the
   free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Red Route One, 124, c, 3, Gun Runner–Red House, by Tapit.
O/B-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen.
$80,000.
3–Tumbarumba, 124, g, 3, Oscar Performance–Naive Enough,
by Street Sense. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($30,000 Ylg '21
FTKOCT). O-Amerman Racing LLC; B-Coteau Grove Farms, LLC
(LA); T-Brian A. Lynch. $44,000.
Margins: NO, NO, 1. Odds: 44.60, 5.20, 6.40.
Also Ran: Raise Cain, Cagliostro, Hit Show, Heroic Move, Groveland, Gunflash, Ghost Hero, Pearl's Earl, Mor Lana Spirit. Scratched: West Coast Cowboy. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuelTV.

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Asmussen Heavyweights Tune Up For Spa Stakes

Top sophomore colt Epicenter (Not This Time) and Eclipse Award-winning sprinter Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) highlighted the Saratoga worktab over the last few mornings as each prepares for big-race engagements July 30.

Winchell Thorougbreds' GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness S. runner-up Epicenter makes his first start of the second half of the season in the GII Jim Dandy S. and went five furlongs over the Oklahoma training track Monday in 1:01.13 in the company of the 3-year-old maiden Flute Master (Gun Runner) (1:03.12).

“Visually impressive is what he is,” trainer Steve Asmussen told the NYRA notes team. “He's an extremely talented horse and he's doing well. His work Monday was as good of a work as I've seen from him, and I've seen some impressive works from him. It's a good time to be doing well.”

J. Kirk and Judy Robison's Jackie's Warrior was last seen overwhelming his competition by five lengths in the June 10 GII True North S. and breezed five-eighths of a mile in 1:00.72 Sunday over the Oklahoma track. The strapping 4-year-old is scheduled to make his next appearance in the GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt S.

“It's so rare to have a champion colt be back in training and not only that, his three runs this year have been visually impressive,” Asmussen said. “He had a nice work here on Sunday and we're on target for the Vanderbilt.”

Jackie's Warrior, who defeated 'TDN Rising Star' Life Is Good (Into Mischief) in last year's GI H. Allen Jerkens S., is also potentially a candidate for the GI Forego S. on the GI Runhappy Travers S. undercard Aug. 27.

“We want more of the same from him. He's 4-for 4 here which is an unbelievable record,” Asmussen said. “His win here in the Allen Jerkens against Life Is Good was as good of a horse race as I've been involved with. It was wonderful to come out on the right side of that.”

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Jackie’s Warrior Just Too Fast in Churchill Downs

The sprint division will be going through champion Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) once again if Satuday's tour-de-force victory in the GI Churchill Downs S. is any indication.

A return winner in a sloppy renewal of Oaklawn's GIII Count Fleet Sprint H. Apr. 16, he was favored at even-money to register his fourth career Grade I victory.

The J. Kirk and Judy Robison colorbearer took his usual spot up front and led his six rivals through much-easier-than-anticipated early fractions of :22.76 and :45.50. He cornered four wide and allowed GI Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Aloha West (Hard Spun) an inviting opening along the rail as they turned for home.

Jackie's Warrior was still cruising though, and was ridden with confidence by Joel Rosario down the lane en route to a four-length victory over Reinvestment Risk (Upstart). Aloha West was third.

“First, I can't say enough about the [J. Kirk and Judy] Robisons putting a champion stallion back in training and letting us enjoy him another year,” winning Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen said. “He's now a Grade I winner at two, three and four. And, the style in which he won today was just beautiful. I thought Joel [Rosario] said it best when we were in paddock just watching him standing there. He said, 'They don't come along like this all the time, do they' and they don't. When you're the speed of the race, you just stay on the path you want. He's older, more confident and stronger.”

Rosario added, “It seemed better to keep him off the rail. It seemed to be a better place for him. He's an amazing horse. The speed that he is able to give you. He is just a strong horse, to get out of there [at the start]–like a quarter horse, and to keep going with that speed. He's just there for you whenever you ask.”

A winner of the GII Pat Day Mile S. on this card 12 months ago, his championship season was topped by a memorable win over the talented Life Is Good (Into Mischief) in the GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S. at Saratoga. The $95,000 KEESEP yearling also captured the GII Amsterdam S. and GII Gallant Bob S. and was a painful second in the GI Woody Stephens S. Jackie's Warrior, also a two-time winner at the highest level at two, exited a disappointing sixth-place finish as the heavy favorite in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint with a bone chip in his knee.

Pedigree Notes:

The future Spendthrift Farm Jackie's Warrior is one of four top-level scorers for Maclean's Music. He is the lone graded winner for broodmare sire A.P. Five Hundred. Jackie's Warrior's dam Unicorn Girl (A.P. Five Hundred) summoned $850,000 from Arthur Hoyeau at the 2020 Keeneland November Sale. Her now-2-year-old colt by American Pharoah preceded her in the ring, bringing $600,000 from Coolmore's M.V. Magnier. Unicorn Girl also has an unraced 3-year-old filly named Lenni Girl (Candy Ride {Arg}). She failed to get in foal to Into Mischief for 2021, but has a filly of this year by the leading sire.

Saturday, Churchill Downs
CHURCHILL DOWNS S. PRESENTED BY FORD-GI, $750,000, Churchill Downs, 5-7, 4yo/up, 7f, 1:21.95, ft.
1–JACKIE'S WARRIOR, 123, c, 4, by Maclean's Music
                1st Dam: Unicorn Girl, by A. P. Five Hundred
                2nd Dam: Horah for Bailey, by Doneraile Court
                3rd Dam: Horah for the Lady, by Rahy
($95,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-J. Kirk and Judy Robison; B-J & J Stables (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen; J-Joel Rosario. $455,700. Lifetime Record: Ch. Male Sprinter, 14-10-1-1, $2,309,664. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Reinvestment Risk, 123, c, 4, Upstart–Ridingwiththedevil, by Candy Ride (Arg). *TDN Rising Star* ($140,000 Ylg '19 FTKJUL; $280,000 2yo '20 OBSMAR). O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.; B-Aschinger Bloodstock Holdings, LLC (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $147,000.
3–Aloha West, 123, h, 5, Hard Spun–Island Bound, by Speightstown. ($160,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP). O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners; B-Robert Manfuso & Katharine M. Voss (MD); T-Wayne M. Catalano. $73,500.
Margins: 4, 1, 4 1/4. Odds: 1.00, 4.60, 4.20.
Also Ran: Sir Alfred James, Mind Control, Long Range Toddy, Prevalence. Scratched: Cezanne.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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