OL WINEDRINKER WHO TAKES ZIA PARK DISTANCE CHAMPIONSHIP

TEXAS-BRED OL WINEDRINKER WHO WINS $150,000 ZIA PARK DISTANCE CHAMPIONSHIP

Texas-bred Ol Winedrinker Who * Photo by Coady Photography

Texas-bred Ol Winedrinker Who continues to get better with age as the 2012 Zia Park Derby winner captured Wednesday’s $150,000 Zia Park Distance Championship for older horses at 1 1/8 miles. With Carlos Madeira up, Ol Winedrinker Who took the lead in the homestretch and surged clear for a 3 1/4-length victory in 1:50.09 as the 3-1 favorite. The race was originally scheduled for Sunday but was postponed due to winter weather in New Mexico.

“He definitely likes the racetrack, and he’s run well every time on it,” his trainer, Joel Marr, said. “He’s getting better with age and getting more mature. He’s learned to run between horses and on the inside. He didn’t like that early on.”

Bred and owned by Sam E. and Sammy L. Stevens, Ol Winedrinker Who is a 4-year-old gelded son of Sligo Bay (Ire). Now a winner of seven of 20 starts, he has banked $346,579. In addition to the Zia Park Derby and Zia Park Distance Championship, the Texas-bred has also won the Veterans Stakes at Zia and the Norgor Derby at Ruidoso Downs.