Zia cancels big weekend, stakes races rescheduled for Wednesday

Severe weather all weekend long cancelled racing from numerous tracks around the country, including washing out the huge racing weekend from Zia Park.  Zia has added a card on Wednesday that will feature all of the stakes races that were cancelled this weekend.  First post is 2:15pm EST time and the big races, the Zia Park Derby and the Zia Park Oaks are carded as races 7 and 8 and here are our selections for those two races:

BetPTC.com Selections for the Zia Park Oaks

1. Gold Medal Dancer
2. Sister Ginger
3. Oscar Party

Longshot: I Am Miss Brown

BetPTC.com Selections for the Zia Park Derby

1. Broadway Empire
2. Carve
3. Real Heat

Longshot: For Cash

Rise Up dominates the Delta Jackpot 

Rise Up was allowed to go pretty easy early on and he had plenty left down the lane as he dominated the $1,000,000 Delta Jackpot at Delta Downs.  Sent off as the 2/1 second choice, Rise Up (BetPTC.com 2^nd Selection) broke beautifully from the outside gate for jockey Gerard Melancon and settled into an easy beat.  The opening quarter was quick in 22.83 seconds, but Rise Up looked to be travelling very easily.  Casiguapo came rolling up into the second spot as they went on the turn but Melancon had plenty left and Rise Up opened up down the lane to score by six emphatic lengths.  Casiguapo was second while Rankhasprivileges rounded out the trifecta.  Coastline, the race favorite, stumbled at the start and just never got in gear, finishing eighth.

The $500,000 Delta Princess went to Tepin, who rallied on the outside of Bahnah (BetPTC.com Top Selection) to get up and score in the Grade 3 race.  Sent off at odds of 7/2, Tepin was fourth early on as Zip On went out to set the pace, with Bahnah just in behind in second.  Bahnah grabbed the lead on the final turn and opened up briefly, but Tepin and Miguel Mena rolled home late to get up and win going away.  Grand Contender (BetPTC.com 2^nd Selection) stalked the early leader Redhotrush and took command and pulled away to win the Delta Mile by over three lengths in convincing fashion.  Grand Contender and Gerard Melancon drew off and held off a late-flying Agent Di Nozzo (BetPTC.com Top Selection) who ran from last early to get up and get second.

String King holds off Tiger Run to win the Mr. Sulu Stakes

String King kept his crown on Saturday as he reeled in 45/1 shot Tiger Run to get up and win the Mr. Sulu Stakes.  Tiger Run was able to get out on the lead and set very slow fractions, going a quarter in 25.32 seconds and a half mile in 50.75.  String King (BetPTC.com Top Selection) was kept in mid-pack early on and jockey James Graham got the big favorite going as they came to the quarter pole.  He grabbed the lead in mid-stretch, but Tiger Run battled on very gamely and held on to finish second, just three quarters of a length behind String King.  Sadie’s Solder (BetPTC.com 3^rd Selection) finished up in third.

Potomac River shocks the River City Handicap

Potomac River closed down the outside of the Churchill Downs turf track and got up to win the $100,000 River City Handicap Handicap at 45/1 odds.  Potomac River was ninth early on as Skyring and Ol Army went out to battle on the early lead.  They set moderate fractions, but both horses folded and finished in the bottom two spots as the rest of the field blew by.  Juan Vargas got Potomac River rolling late and grabbed the lead and had to outfight 16/1 long shot Set the Sail who ran second and completed a $1,141 exacta.  Grand Arch finished up in third with Villandry rounding out the Superfecta.