NEWS
Quindici Man takes Zia Park Derby
Posted: Saturday, December 05, 2009 7:49 PM
QUINDICI MAN
Tommie Morelos/Coady Photography
To view the Zia Park Derby, click here.
by Ron Parker
G R D Two’s Quindici Man won his third consecutive stakes race on Saturday with a game performance in the $150,000 Zia Park Derby at Zia Park.
Nine three-year-olds entered the starting gate for the 1 1/16-mile contest and Runnin Red hustled out first, taking his challengers through the first half-mile in a sensible :48.28 with 8-to-5 favorite Red Lead pressing less than a half-length behind.
Midway up the backstretch, Red Lead forged to the front for a narrow lead but was unable to shake free of Quindici Man, who ranged up on the outside under jockey Antonio Castanon and dueled with the leader down the stretch before inching away late for a neck victory.
Red Lead easily held second, 7¾ lengths clear of third-place finisher Star Redeemer as Quindici Man covered the distance in 1:46.20 over a track listed as sloppy.
Trained by Craig Lewis, Quindici Man finished third behind Grazen in the Affirmed Handicap (G3) at Hollywood Park on June 20. Following three unplaced finishes at Hollywood and Del Mar, the colt responded with victories in the Pomona Derby at Fairplex Park and the Jack Coady Sr. Stakes at Turf Paradise before extending his win streak to three at Zia Park on Saturday.
A $12,000 purchase by Richard Scibelli at the 2007 Keeneland September yearling sale, Quindici Man won for the sixth time from 18 starts and increased his career earnings to $249,100. He is out of the Valiant Nature mare Humble and from the same family as two-time Grade 1 winner and sire Wild Rush, an earner of $1,386,302.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Ron Parker is a Thoroughbred Times contributing writer
