Monday's Racing Picks 12/16: Zia Park

The week before Christmas starts at Zia Park in Hobbs New Mexico for a $51,000 allowance race for state-bred 3-year-olds fillies over one mile. The field of 7 will go to gate for race 6 on the 11-race card with an approximate post time of 4:00 p.m. ET.

#2, Sweet Parting, Alejandro Medellin, 3-1

Sweet Parting has finished in the money in all three starts this year (1-1-1), highlighted by her first career triumph by a whopping 9 ½ lengths in a maiden special weight race at Zia Park on Nov. 18. All four career starts have been raced here. The question is will she bounce off such a convincing win? Alejandro Medellin is in the saddle for the fourth straight time for trainer Greg Green. The pick.

#1, Let It Roll, Francisco Arrieta, 6-5

Let It Roll will be making her 18th career start (3-6-4) and her 13th this year (2-5-3). She has finished in the money in five straight starts, including her last, a third-place finish in an allowance race here on Dec. 3. She likes Zia too, having gone 1-1-2 in five career starts here. Francisco Arrieta gets the mount for the third straight time for trainer Todd Fincher.  Runner-up.

#3, Singing Mary, Ry Eikleberry, 6-1

Winless in three career starts here, Singing Mary is looking for her first win since an allowance race at Sunland Park on May 3. In her last start, she finished fifth in an allowance race here on Nov. 19. Ry Eikleberry is in the reins for trainer Martin Valdez-Cabral, Jr. Contender.

#4, McWend, Elvin Gonzalez, 6-1

McWend has raced in seven straight stakes races, so she finally gets some relief. In her last start, she finished third in the Zia Park Oaks on Nov. 27. She is looking for her first win since the Peppers Pride Handicap at Sunland Park on April 7. This will be her sixth career start at Zia Park (0-0-1). Elvin Gonzalez gets the call for trainer Miguel Hernandez. In the mix.

PICKS: 2-1-3-4

By Lou Monaco