Trainer Gary Thomas makes it count when he ships in to race at Zia Park in Hobbs, N.M.
He has had one career starter at the track, Golden Yank, who in 2008 won the $150,000 Zia Derby. Thomas will be back in town Sunday with Greeley’s Conquest, a multiple stakes-winning sprinter who could go favored in the $100,000 Premiere Cup Handicap.
“It looks like the right spot to me,” Thomas said of making the trip from Remington Park.
The Premiere Cup is a six-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up and is the first stakes at the Zia meet, which opened Saturday. Six horses are set to start, including Ez Dreamer, the race’s defending champ; Jonesboro, a winner of $1.5 million; and River Echo, who invades from Del Mar.
Greeley’s Conquest last raced Aug. 21 and was third in the $200,000 Remington Sprint Cup at six furlongs. He dueled through quick fractions before finishing six lengths behind the winner, Atta Boy Roy, who is being pointed for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. The Remington Sprint Cup was Greeley’s Conquest’s his first race since last November.
“He was a short horse,” Thomas said. “He hadn’t run in nine months, went out there head and head where he shouldn’t have been, and got awful tired. He’ll benefit a lot from it. Without any bad luck, he should be really tough.”
Greeley’s Conquest will break from post 5 and could get a tracking trip behind Ez Dreamer.
“I think if he breaks good, he can be about anywhere he wants to be,” Thomas said. “I think the only speed in there is Ez Dreamer.”
Glen Murphy will be reunited with Greeley’s Conquest, who races for Millard R. Seldin.
Ez Dreamer is making his first start since finishing sixth to the now-retired Majesticperfection in the $125,000 Iowa Sprint Handicap on June 25. He did not get the break from his inside post and found himself farther off the pace than usual. Majesticperfection wired the field and covered six furlongs in a blazing 1:07.20.
Ez Dreamer has since been working at Remington for his return. Ken Tohill, who was aboard Ez Dreamer last year in the Premiere, has the return call for Triple AAA Ranch and trainer Kory Owens.
Jonesboro was fourth last out in the Remington Cup. The race was his first since May.
