Valence set the pace and kept going to pull a 17-1 upset in the $300,000 Zia Park Oaks on Tuesday. She won in track record time, finishing four lengths clear of second-place finisher Xena. It was another five lengths back in third to Under the Palms.
The Zia Oaks was one of seven stakes on the $1.1 million Land of Enchantment card.
Valence ($37.20) covered 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:41.79. Announcer John McGary said the old track record had held for 10 years. Diamatic broke Valence's record one race later, when he won the $300,000 Zia Park Derby in 1:41.69.
Valence broke well and proceeded to take the field through a pressured opening quarter in 23.83 seconds. Valence continued to lead through a half-mile in 47.48 and six furlongs in 1:11.26 before rebuffing a bid by Xena and going on to win her stakes debut Tuesday.
Luis Fuentes rode Valence for trainer Ty Garrett.
Valence is a daughter of Violence who races for A. Jason Hall Stables, Stephen R. Baker, and Bill Vanlandingham. She has now won three of eight starts. Valence came into the race off a runner-up finish in a two-other-than allowance route at Zia.
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The Zia Oaks was her first dirt win. She had previously won on turf at Canterbury Park and Golden Gate Fields.
Chatalas, V V’s Dream, and Arctic Breeze were scratched from the Zia Oaks.
Sprint divisions
Jaxon Traveler ($2.10) won the $100,000 Zia Sprint for the second year in a row, when he blazed through six furlongs in 1:07.79. Last year, he won the race in a scorching 1:07.37.
Jaxon Traveler on Tuesday won by 4 3/4 lengths over Dean’s List. Jose Ortiz was aboard the winner for West Point Thoroughbreds and trainer Steve Asmussen.
It was third consecutive win for Jaxon Traveler, following an allowance and the David M. Vance Stakes, both at Remington Park.
Holly Dolly ($6.60) won her fifth straight race when she captured the $100,000 Zia Distaff by 1 3/4 lengths over 3-5 favorite Olivia Twist. The winner covered six furlongs in a stout 1:07.97.
Iram Diego was aboard for Tom Durant and trainer Ray Ashford Jr.
Juvenile races
Smash It ($2.10), a half-brother to Grade 2 winner Slammed, became a stakes winner in the $100,000 Zia Juvenile. He came home in front by three lengths, while covering six furlongs in 1:08.07.
Alfredo Juarez Jr. was aboard the Louisiana-bred son of Star Guitar for trainer Todd Fincher.
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Saratoga maiden winner Reliable Source ($3.60) picked up a stakes win in the $100,000 Zia Park Princess, covering six furlongs in 1:08.29. She won off by eight lengths under Ortiz, who had the call from Asmussen.
* Heroic Move ($5.20) powered to a 2 3/4-length win over Mine That Star in the $125,000 Zia Park Championship. The winner covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.03.
Harry Hernandez was aboard for trainer Robertino Diodoro.
* Dashingly, who shares a name with a famous Quarter Horse, was a 7 1/4-length maiden special weight winner in the opener Tuesday.
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