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Super Stock Headlines Asmussen Brigade For Zia Park’s Land Of Enchantment Card

Hall of Famer and North American Thoroughbred racing's all-time leading trainer Steve Asmussen and three-time Eclipse Award winner as the country's outstanding jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., will be well represented at Zia Park on its Tuesday, Nov. 23 Land of Enchantment stakes card. The duo sends out horses in six of the seven stake races, including the odds-on morning line favorite in three of them.

First post for the 10-race card will be 12:00 PM Mountain Time.

Headlining the $250,000 Zia Park Derby is Grade 1 winner Super Stock, winner of the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn in April. Super Stock finished 16th in this year's Kentucky Derby and will be making his twelfth straight start in stakes company. Last out, the son of Dialed In checked in third in the Oklahoma Derby (G3) on Sept. 26. Super Stock is the 1-5 morning line favorite in the field of five 3-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles.

Asmussen also sends out heavy favorites Casual (3-5 morning line) in the $75,000 Zia Park Distaff at six furlongs and multiple stakes winner Tenfold (8-5 morning line) in the $75,000 Zia Park Championship at a mile and one-eighth.

Assmussen will also saddle graded stakes winner Pauline's Pearl (9-5 morning line) in the $200,000 Zia Park Oaks at one mile and one-sixteenth, Optionality (3-1 morning line) in the $50,000 Zia Park Princess at six furlongs and Much Better (4-1 morning line) in the $75,000 Zia Park Sprint at six furlongs.

Ortiz, Jr., who took home his three Eclipse Awards in 2018, 2019 and 2020 is currently 2021's leading jockey in North America by wins and will have the mount on all of Asmussen's entrants in his debut at Zia Park.

Asmussen is seeking his first win in both the Zia Park Derby and the Zia Park Oaks.

A contingent from two California based trainers will be formidable in several of the stake events. Peter Miller sends out the morning line favorite Aquitania Arrival in the $50,000 Juvenile, A Paycheque Smile in the Princess and None Above The Law in the Derby. Top California rider and Kentucky Derby winning jockey Flavien Prat is named to ride Miller's three starters. Also in from California will be Lady Mystify from the barn of Peter Eurton. The winner of the Remington Park Oaks (G3) in her last start has been tabbed as the 6-5 morning line favorite with Prat in the irons.

Local hopes in the Zia Park Oaks may rest with the 3-year-old filly Slammed, trained by Zia's leading trainer in 2021 Todd Fincher. Slammed will go into the gate on Tuesday with a resume that includes 6 wins from 7 lifetime starts but has remained in New Mexico-bred events until now. Her last win was an emphatic score in the one-mile New Mexico Cup Championship versus older females on October 31.

2019 Zia Park Derby winner Mr. Money Bags makes his return to Zia Park in the Sprint. Mr. Money Bags has been in the money in 19 of 22 lifetime starts earning over $529,000.

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Saturday Insights: Promising Maidens on Display at Aqueduct, Churchill and Del Mar

1st-AQU, $80k, Msw, 3yo/up, 1mT, post time: 11:50 a.m. ET
Stone Farm homebred WAR FIGHTER (War Front), a full-brother to European champion 2-year-old and young Coolmore sire Air Force Blue, kicks off his career over the Aqueduct lawn for Graham Motion. The dark bay posted a pair of bullets at Fair Hill for this, including a four-furlong spin in :48 (1/6) over the all-weather Nov. 15. Chatham (Maria's Mon)'s 2020 War Front colt brought $1 million from Lynnhaven Racing at this year's Keeneland September Sale. TJCIS PPs

5th-AQU, $80k, Msw, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, post time: 1:45 p.m. ET
WINIT (Tapit), a $410,000 KEEESEP yearling purchase by Whisper Hill Farm, debuts in this two-turn grass affair for trainer John Kimmel. The gray was produced by a winning full-sister to GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine New Money Honey (Medaglia d'Oro). Winit tuned up for this with a four-furlong breeze in :48 (2/36) from the gate at Belmont Nov. 11. TJCIS PPs

7th-CD, $120k, Msw, 2yo, f, 1 1/16m, post time: 4:06 p.m. ET
Stonestreet homebred LA CRETE (Medaglia d'Oro) gets her career started in this two-turn test beneath the Twin Spires. The bay filly is a half-sister to GISW Clairiere (Curlin), who rallied to finish a close fourth after a wide trip in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff at Del Mar. The 5-2 morning-line favorite is trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen and will be ridden by Joel Rosario. TJCIS PPs

11th-CD, $120k, Msw, 2yo, f, 7f, post time: 6:06 p.m. ET
Trainer Ken McPeek unveils RUN THE TAP (Gun Runner), a half-sister to grassy GI Fourstardave H. winner Halladay (War Front). The gray brought $210,000 from Walking L Thoroughbreds LLC at last year's Keeneland September Yearling sale. Leading freshman sire Gun Runner is already responsible for 21 winners. She is listed at 8-1 on the morning-line in this nine-horse field. TJCIS PPs

6th-DMR, $70k, Msw, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f, post time: 6:00 p.m. ET
MyRacehorse and Spendthrift Farm LLC's well-named MICRO SHARE (Upstart) takes on nine rivals in this debut run for Hall of Famer Richard Mandella. The dark bay, out of the unraced The Daddy mare Who'sbeeninmybed, was a :20 4/5 breezer and $450,000 purchase at the OBS April Sale. The field also includes fellow firster Empire Gal (Empire Maker), produced by a winning full-sister to the brilliant Untapable (Tapit). TJCIS PPs

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Jaxon Traveler Takes On Baby Yoda In Monday’s $250,000 Steel Valley Sprint

West Point Thoroughbreds and Marvin Delfiner owned Jaxon Traveler will be making the journey to Hollywood Gaming Mahoning Valley Race Course this Monday, Nov. 22 to contest the $250,000 Steel Valley Sprint. The Steve Asmussen trainee is a three time stakes winner and earlier this year found himself on the board in two graded stakes efforts.

His first graded effort came in the Chick Lang (G3) at Pimlico where he finished second, one and a quarter lengths behind Mighty Mischief. Two starts later, he returned to graded company over the turf course at Saratoga in the Quick Call (G3) finishing third behind eventual Breeders Cup Turf Sprint (G1) victor Golden Pal.

Next out, Jaxon Traveler would cruise to an easy victory in the restricted Star De Naskra before returning to the turf in his most recent effort where he came up three quarters of a length short in the Allied Forces at Belmont.

“We have tried him a few times on the turf and he is certainly a bit more of a dirt horse but still runs well,” comments Toby Sheets, Assistant Trainer to Steve Asmussen. “He has been a very consistent horse for us and has been training good leading into this race.”

Never off the board in ten lifetime starts, the colt will have the services of Gerardo Corrales in the irons for the first time.

Boasting the highest Beyer number of not only this field but tied for the top spot in the United States in 2021 is Bill Mott-trained Baby Yoda who earned a 114 for his effort at Saratoga on Sept. 4.

If his name wasn't enough to catch the public eye, his back to back dominant performances this summer at Saratoga certainly were and led him to his first start in stakes company, the Vosburgh (G2) at Belmont, where he finished third to his older counterparts, grade one placed Following Sea and grade one winner Firenze Fire.

“Baby Yoda is a nice horse, a lot of fun to be around, and we have been slowly working him up the ladder,” states Mott. “He caught a tough field last out in the Vosburgh and after the race, we made the decision to point him towards the Steel Valley Sprint. It's a good purse and we will be in our own age group.” Owned by Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, Pantofel Stable LLC, and Jerold L. Zaro, Baby Yoda will be entering this race looking for the first stakes win of his young career and will be reunited with jockey Jose Ortiz who rode him to both his victories at Saratoga.

Trainer Carlos David is entering the Steel Valley Sprint with stakes winner and grade two placed Real Talk, owned by Bell Racing LLC. Real Talk broke through with his first stake score on August 15 at Monmouth in the Jersey Shore setting the pace and pulling away to win by four and a half lengths.

After that performance it was on to graded company in the Gallant Bob (G2) where he finished third behind multiple grade one winner Jackie's Warrior and grade three winner Pickin' Time. Real Talk will have the return services of Paco Lopez.

Entering fresh off a win last out is Robert Reid, Jr. trained Beren who scored in statebred company at Penn National Race Course. Owned by St. Omer's Farm and Christopher J. Feifarek, Beren also boasts multiple stakes winning efforts against open company at Belmont Park and Parx and has the highest earnings in the field at $436,970. Regular rider Frankie Pennington will be aboard.

Rounding out the field is Kelly Breen trained Newbomb who ran a big race last out in allowance company at Belmont, Mister Luigi, Channel Fury, A Few Too Many, Timeless Bounty, Insofar, Kiltoom, and Ahimelech.

Scheduled to run just before the Steel Valley Sprint is the $75,000 Hollywood Gaming Mahoning Distaff headlined by Todd Beattie trained multiple grade three winner Victim of Love who will find herself facing off against twelve other rivals.

The Steel Valley Sprint is schedule to go to post at 4:07 P.M. EST and will be part of a mandatory payout of the Buckeye Jackpot Pick 6 which starts in race 4 at approx. 2:08 P.M. EST. “We are excited to offer our handicappers added wagering value on the card with this mandatory payout of our Buckeye Jackpot Pick 6,” comments Rob Swedinovich, Vice President and General Manager. The Pick 6 sequence boasts an average field size before scratches of nine horses. Handicappers should also note that the stake is included in the Pick 4 sequence featuring a low 15% takeout which begins in race 6 at approx. 3:04 P.M. EST.

$250,000 STEEL VALLEY SPRINT

November 22, 2021

Race 8 – Post Time 4:07 P.M. EST

3yr, 6 Furlongs

PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer

1. Kiltoom, T.D. Houghton, 117, Crystal Richison

2. Beren, Frankie Pennington, 124, Robert E. Reid, Jr.

3. Jaxon Traveler, Gerardo Corrales, 124, Steven M. Asmussen

4. Baby Yoda, Jose L. Ortiz, 119, William I. Mott

5. Newbomb, Jose Lezcano, 121, Kelly J. Breen

6. Mister Luigi, Edgard J. Zayas, 117, Antonio Sano

7. Real Talk, Paco Lopez, 124, Carlos A. David

8. Channel Fury, Luis Raul Rivera, 117, James R. Jackson

9. A Few Too Many, TBA, 117, Michelle L. Elliott

10. Timeless Bounty, Malcolm Franklin, 117, David Wilson, Jr.

11. Ahimelech, Jeffrey Sanchez, 117, Jeffrey Skerrett

12. Insofar, Gabriel Lagunes, 117, Eduardo Caramori

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Jackie’s Warrior Emerges From Breeders’ Cup With Knee Chip, Expected To Return In 2022

After finishing sixth as the heavy favorite in the Breeders' Cup Sprint, Jackie's Warrior was diagnosed with a chip in his left knee.

According to the Daily Racing Form, the 3-year-old son of Maclean's Music has undergone surgery with Dr. Larry Bramlage of Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, and is expected to return to the races in 2022.

This year, Jackie's Warrior has won the G2 Pat Day Mile, G2 Amsterdam, G1 H. Allen Jerkens, and the G2 Gallant Bob.

“He's an unbelievable, tremendous horse,” trainer Steve Asmussen told DRF. “I thought that the Allen Jerkens against Life Is Good was as good as horse racing gets. Unbelievably fortunate to be involved with him and very anxious to race him next year – because they don't get any better.”