Alsvid the new likely favourite to win the Zia Derby
The 3-year-old bay gelding by Officer, Alsvid, had had an impressive sophomore season, and things could get even better after he becomes the likely favourite to win the $150,000 Zia Derby, as the Doug O’Neill trained morning line pick, Private Zone, scratched
from the race.
The scratch was confirmed by trainer Doug O’Neill that Private Zone will not be racing in the Zia Derby, as he is not making the trip from Southern California, and instead will wait for the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes on 26 December, 2012, at Santa Anita Park.
Had Private Zone, he would have been sent as the 5 to 2 morning line favourite. The Zia Derby, 10th on the card, will be run over a distance of 1 1/16 miles.
Trained by Chris Hartman for James Rogers' Black Hawk Stable, Alsvid will be shipping in from Remington Park for the Zia Derby, where he drew post number 4 under jockey C. Landeros at 7 to 2.
Alsvid is currently exiting a fourth place finish in the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash Stakes at Laurel Park on 27 October, 2012, but prior to the defeat he won back-to-back races, both coming at Remington Park.
Bouncing back well from the Grade 3 Iowa Derby defeat at Prairie Meadows, Alsvid strut his stuff back home when he ran with sheer purpose and determination to take the David M. Vance Sprint Stakes on 11 August, following up with a victory in the Remington
Park Sprint Cup Stakes on 30 September.
Leading up to the Grade 3 Iowa Derby, Alsvid started the year at Prairie Meadows and was successful in landing his seasonal debut. He won the Golden Circle Stakes in April, and then at the same venue won the Prairie Mile Stakes in June.
Out of Reagle Mary by Afternoon Deelites, Alsvid in his only graded stakes race this year, in the Iowa Derby pressed the pace, but was pegged back to finish fifth to winner, Hansen.
"I thought it was a good spot for the horse for the simple reason that the money is decent and this time of year there is not much left for straight 3-year-olds," Hartman said.
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