Tap Dancing Mauk Defends Title In Zia Park Distance Championship
HOBBS, New Mexico (December 9, 2007) — The Mauk
One
Racing Stables’ Tap Dancing Mauk got a ground-saving
trip from veteran jockey Casey Lambert to defend his
title in the $186,960 Zia Park Distance Championship
on Sunday afternoon.
The Zia Park Distance Championship was the second
half of a stakes doubleheader at Zia Park. In the
Grade 1, $186,460 Zia Park Quarter Horse Championship,
Ketel Won raced to the half-length victory.
The Dale Romans-trained Tap Dancing Mauk broke from
the outside post position in the 1-1/8 mile stakes and
settled into stride. “We were able to get to the fence
by the first turn and stayed there,” Lambert said.
“Coming into the stretch we just swung out around one
horse and he went on.”
The Frontier Stables’ Guiding Hand helped push the
pace until he was caught by Tap Dancing Mauk and Red
Rock Creek, who rallied from last place, in the
stretch. Tap Dancing Mauk won by one and a quarter
lengths over Red Rock Creek and it was another
one-and-three-quarter lengths back to Guiding Hand.
Tap Dancing Mauk raced the 1-1/8 mile in 1:51 for his
second win from seven starts this year. Last year, he
won the Zia Park Distance Championship by
three-and-a-quarter lengths. “We’ll be back to try for
three next year,” Romans said in the winner’s circle.
Tap Dancing Mauk also had an interesting trip to Zia
Park from his home base at Churchill Downs in
Louisville, Kentucky. “I have a 20-foot stock trailer
and I just put him in there and turn him loose,”
Romans said. “Every time we stop for gas we feed him
and make sure he has water. Obviously, he travels
well.”
Tap Dancing Mauk returned $12.60, $5.60 and $4.40.
Red Rock Creek paid $8.40 and $5.80 while Guiding Hand
was worth $9.80 to show.