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Zia Weekend
FOR SATURDAY RELEASE
Zia Festival Weekend Starts at Ruidoso Downs
With Gone To The Mountain in Master Salls
RUIDOSO DOWNS, New Mexico (July 31, 2010) – The 10th-annual Zia Festival celebrating New Mexico starts on Saturday at Ruidoso Downs and featured on the track is the nation’s premier 870-yard competitor Gone To The Mountain racing at his favorite distance in the $30,000 Master Salls Handicap.
Clyde Woemer’s Gone To The Mountain returns from a 4-month rest in search of his seventh-straight victory for trainer Wes Giles. The 2009 champion distance horse has not lost in more than 14 months and sports a 4-length win in last year’s Master Salls Handicap as part of his current winning streak. A year ago he, simply, took the lead at the start and was never challenged while cruising to the Master Salls winner’s circle.
The world-record holder at 870 yards, Gone To The Mountain made his most recent start in the Red Cell Sunland Park Distance Challenge on April 4, winning by more than one length as the 1-20 favorite.
Regular rider Freddie Martinez rides Gone To The Mountain with the sixth post position in the 8-horse field.
Also on Saturday, Ron Hanna’s homebred Son Of A Preacherman looks for his second win in the $20,000 Gwendolyn Eaves Overnight Stakes for 2-year-old New Mexico-breds at 400 yards. The gelding from the hot Carlos Sedillo barn comes off a narrow non-qualifying win in his Zia Futurity trial and has been on the board in each of his three starts.
Jacky Martin rides Son Of A Preacherman from the ninth post position in the full 10-horse field.
On Saturday and Sunday, the grandstand will be filled with New Mexico vendors offering a wide selection of arts, crafts and other items from the Land of Enchantment. There is no charge for admission and there is free parking. Come early to see the widest selection of these interesting and captivating New Mexico products.
Also, Ruidoso Downs employees have decorated their work areas to reflect a New Mexico theme. They are imaginative and fans enjoy their “work” every Zia Festival.
The racing segment of the Zia Festival is on Sunday with full program of New Mexico-bred stakes action featuring an estimated $1,000,000 in purses. The top New Mexico-bred thoroughbreds and quarters horses make this day of racing one of the highlights of the Ruidoso Downs summer season.
First post time is 1 p.m. and there is always free parking and free general admission for racing at Ruidoso Downs.
For more information, please contact rweber@RaceRuidoso.com .
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