Sunland Derby

Note: Date, Track and Qualifying Points are based on the Road to the 2021 Kentucky Derby schedule.

The 2021 event has subsequently been cancelled due to the Covid-19 related shutdown of the meet at Sunland Park.

When:  March 30, 2021

Where:  Sunland Park (Sunland Park, NM)

Purse: $700,000

Race Distance: 1 1/8 mile

History:  One of the most recent additions in the Road to the Kentucky Derby, the Sunland Derby was first run in 2003. It is the only Derby prep race at the venue in New Mexico, which heavily pursued a race that would bring attention to the venue following the approval of slot machines in 1999, which brought in additional revenue and awareness to the track which had first opened in 1959. They partnered with WinStar Farm in 2003 to run the race and it officially became the only graded stakes race at the track in 2010 and is now the final race in the first leg of the Championship series. Bob Baffett leads the list of trainers with most wins with three and both Victor Espinoza and Martin Garcia have crossed the line first on two occasions as jockey. The 2016 event was cancelled due to an outbreak of Equid alphaherpesvirus 1 and the 2020 event was cancelled due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

Qualifying Points:  50-20-10-5

Past Winners:

2020 had no race
2019 - Cutting Humor
2018 - Runaway Ghost
2017 - Hence
2016 had no race
2015 - Firing Line
2014 - Chitu
2013 - Govenor Charlie
2012 - Daddy Nose Best
2011 - Twice the Appeal
2010 - Endorsement
2009 - Kelly Leak
2008 - Liberty Bull
2007 - Song of Navarone
2006 - Wanna Runner
2005 - Thor's Echo
2004 - Hi Teck Man
2003 - Excessivepleasure

Odds & Entries for the next race will appear here once available...