Weekend Wrap-Up by Mike Ahrens: July 10 - 12, 2020

Saturday saw the Zia Derby trials as races two through six, from which the 10 fastest times will proceed to the finals. The seasonal bow of Mister Riptide was a winning one, earning him the eighth-fastest time of the day and a berth two weeks hence. He was the only horse from the first two of five total trials to make the finals. Two qualified from the sixth race, while three came from race four and four runners out of race five. The second- and third-fastest times belonged to Close to Crazy and Stominado, both from the barn of Juan M. Gonzalez. Close to Crazy had previously won the Rita Danley Distaff here June 14th and came right back going an added 50 yards to run a bang-up race but settling for second. The winner of that event, Donelli, from the barn of Wes Giles and ridden by Alan Hernandez, has now compiled a record of five wins and three seconds from eight-lifetime starts and looks to be favored to add another notch to her belt for owner-breeder MJ Farms.

The nightcap on Saturday was a five-furlong event for New Mexico-bred thoroughbred maidens. The eight-length winner of that race in a snappy 58.07 was Todd Fincher-trained filly Comic Hot Toddy with Shane Laviolette aboard. Even Fincher was a little surprised by the performance, "but her mom did the exact same thing first out." After tracking the early pace she moved up inside the leader to take over, drew off, and was ridden out with only minimal encouragement from the rider. Per Fincher the next stop is the Rio Grande Senorita Futurity trials in two weeks.