First Strike Posts Upset Victory in Zia Park Derby

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Lori Ritz / Coady Photography/story by Michael Cusortelli

First Strike Posts Upset Victory in Zia Park Derby

Hobbs, NM – Dec. 3, 2011 - First Strike outran his 6-1 odds to win Saturday's $150,000 Zia Park Derby for 3-year-olds at Zia Park Racetrack.

Trained by Robertino Diodoro and ridden by Alfredo Juarez for owners Charles Garvey and TG Racing LLC, First Strike covered his 1 1/16-mile trip in 1:44.86 while defeating Thirtyfirststreet by 1 ¾ lengths and extending his win streak to three.

First Strike was bred in Kentucky by Mercedes Stables LLC, and the dark bay or brown gelding and one-time $30,000 claimer became the 17th stakes winner sired by Vindication, a stallion by 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew who won the 2002 Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile Stakes (G1) at Arlington Park and was that season's champion 2-year-old male Thoroughbred.

Vindication has sired the earners of more than $17.05 million from 367 starters. He died from an irreparable gastric rupture on July 10, 2008.

First Strike is also one of four winners from five starters foaled by Miss City Princess, a winning 17-year-old daughter of the Mr. Prospector stallion Carson City. The gelding's half sister, Miss Bridget Jones, won the 2003 Stonerside Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Lone Star Park.

First Strike was coming off of a victory in a 6 1/2-furlong, $40,000 claiming sprint at Santa Anita Park on November 4. All told, he has won four of nine races, and the $90,000 winner's share of the Zia Park Derby pushed his bankroll to $165,760, all of which has been earned this year.

Half Dome Dude ran third, nine lengths behind runner-up Thirtyfirststreet, and was followed by Happy Toes, 4-5 favorite Awesome Bet, and Hidden Recipe.

Thirtyfirststreet is a California-bred colt by Good Journey racing for Mark Gorman, Neil Haymes, and the Sterling Stable. Thirtyfirststreet has earned $298,400 from 12 outs, and his three victories include the May 30, $200,000 Lone Star Derby on the turf.

A Kentucky-bred gelding by the Numerous stallion Kela, Half Dome Dude was coming off of a two-length entry-level allowance win at Zia Park on November 13. Half Dome Dude has won three of seven races and has banked $82,300 for his owner, J. Kirk Robison.