Stable Notes by Mike Ahrens: Thursday, July 23, 2020

Trainer Juan M. Gonzalez sends out several live runners in stakes this weekend. The trainer's son, Juan Carlos, who oversees much of the day to day training, was quite high on their two runners in the Zia Derby as well as two other runners who are new to the barn.

Close To Crazy, a three-year-old filly, comes into the Derby with the second-fastest qualifying time when beaten a neck by Donelli. In that race, she broke from post two, but in her race prior to that, the Rita Danley Distaff which she won impressively by a length and a half, she had drawn outside where she will be this Saturday. "I'm really pleased to have the ten-hole," said Juan Carlos. "She's doing great, super sound. They're going to have to run all out to ger her." He also said Stominado, breaking inside from post three, was doing super and that they had two great shots to take the Derby.

A new entrant to their barn, Woodys Copy Cat, has been with them about two months and will run in the Zia Handicap at 400 yards. She recently worked in such fashion that the rider up that day described her as "gliding over the track." Juan Carlos did however indicate he "was a little worried about the distance but hopefully we've got her more conditioned" and she can stay the last 50 yards.

The other horse who is new to their care, having been in the barn about four to five weeks, is Dan The Flashman. He runs Sunday in the Zia 870 Championship which he won last year by a head. "He stumbled a bit coming out of the gate," said Juan Carlos, referring to the five-year-old gelding's last workout, "but the rider said he was flying" to post a 44.62 time for 660 yards. The race appears to have come up a bit tougher than last year's edition, but if that workout is any indication then the defending champion of this event should be right there again.