Sunland Park Derby
Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". The Sunland Park Derby is a Listed American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds over a distance of <templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1+1⁄16 miles on the dirt scheduled annually in February at Sunland Park Racetrack in Sunland Park, New Mexico. The event currently offers a purse of $400,000.
History
The event was inaugurated on March 30, 2003, as the WinStar Derby after sponsorship by WinStar Farm of Versailles, Kentucky. The purse allotted was $500,000 which was a major attraction to the track.[1] Previously, Sunland Park has hosted an event known as the Riley Allison Derby. However, the purse offered for the event was a fraction of what the new event. Later the Riley Allison Derby was moved to January. Today it is known as the Riley Allison Stakes and it is a preparation event for the Sunland Park Derby.
In 2005 the distance of the event was increased to <templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1+1⁄8 miles.[2] In 2009 the event was renamed as the Sunland Derby and the purse was increased to $900,000.[3] The fourth place finisher in that event, Mine That Bird followed that effort with a stunning victory in the Kentucky Derby.
For the event's 11th running in 2010, it received Grade III status from the American Graded Stakes Committee for the first time.[4] Since 2013 the event is an official Road to the Kentucky Derby prep race with qualification points offered.
The 2016 running of the Sunland Derby was cancelled due to an outbreak of Equine herpesvirus 1.[5]
In 2019 the event was run as the Sunland Park Derby.[6]
The 2020 and 2021 running of the Sunland Park Derby was cancelled due to an outbreak of COVID-19.[7] The purse for the event was decrease substantially in 2022 to $500,000 when the event was resumed.[6]
In 2024 the distance was decreased to <templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1+1⁄16 miles and the event was moved in the racing calendar to mid-February.[6]
In 2025 the event was downgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to Listed status.[8]
Records
Speed record:
- <templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1+1⁄16 miles: 1:42.64 – Stronghold (2024) & Getaway Car (2025)
- <templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1+1⁄8 miles: 1:46.94 – Cutting Humor (2019)
Margins
- <templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />14+1⁄2 lengths – Firing Line (2015)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 2 - Victor Espinoza (2006, 2007)
- 2 - Martin Garcia (2013, 2014)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 4 - Bob Baffert (2006, 2013, 2014, 2025)
Most wins by an owner:
- 2 - Michael E. Pegram (2006, 2013)
Winners
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunland Park Derby | ||||||||||
| 2025 | Getaway Car | Juan J. Hernandez | Bob Baffert | SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital & Catherine Donovan | <templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.64 | $400,000 | Listed | [9] | |
| 2024 | Stronghold | Antonio Fresu | Philip D’Amato | Eric M. Waller & Sharon Waller | <templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.64 | $400,000 | III | [10] | |
| 2023 | Wild On Ice | Ken S. Tohill | Joel H. Marr | Frank Sumpter Jr. | <templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1+1⁄8 miles | 1:51.39 | $600,000 | III | [11] | |
| 2022 | Slow Down Andy | Mario Gutierrez | Doug O'Neill | Reddam Racing | <templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.16 | $500,000 | III | [12] | |
| 2021 | Not run due to the COVID-19 pandemic[7] | |||||||||
| 2020 | ||||||||||
| 2019 | Cutting Humor | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Starlight Racing | <templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.16 | $800,000 | III | [13] | |
| Sunland Derby | ||||||||||
| 2018 | Runaway Ghost | Tracy J. Hebert | Todd W. Fincher | Joe Peacock | <templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.20 | $800,000 | III | [14] | |
| 2017 | Hence | Alfredo J. Juarez Jr. | Steven M. Asmussen | Calumet Farm | <templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.10 | $800,000 | III | [15] | |
| 2016 | Not run due to an outbreak of Equine herpesvirus[5] | |||||||||
| 2015 | Firing Line | Gary L. Stevens | Simon Callaghan | Arnold Zetcher | <templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1+1⁄8 miles | 1:47.39 | $800,000 | III | [16] | |
| 2014 | Chitu | Martin Garcia | Bob Baffert | Tanma Corporation | <templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1+1⁄8 miles | 1:47.88 | $800,110 | III | [17] | |
| 2013 | Govenor Charlie | Martin Garcia | Bob Baffert | Michael E. Pegram | <templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1+1⁄8 miles | 1:47.54 | $800,000 | III | [18] | |
| 2012 | Daddy Nose Best | Julien Leparoux | Steven M. Asmussen | Cathy & Robert Zollars | <templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.59 | $800,000 | III | [19] | |
| 2011 | Twice the Appeal | Christian S. Reyes | Jeff Bonde | Edward J. Brown Jr., Victor Flores & Henry Hernandez | <templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.91 | $800,000 | III | [20] | |
| 2010 | Endorsement | Robby Albarado | Shannon Ritter | WinStar Farm | <templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.46 | $800,000 | III | [21] | |
| 2009 | Kelly Leak | Mike E. Smith | Mike Machowsky | Blahut Racing, Dennis Avila & Dave Johnson | <templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.02 | $900,000 | Listed | [3] | |
| WinStar Derby | ||||||||||
| 2008 | Liberty Bull | Gerard Melancon | Thomas M. Amoss | Kenneth Maier | <templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.82 | $600,000 | Listed | [22] | |
| 2007 | Song of Navarone | Victor Espinoza | Henry Dominguez | George E. Coleman | <templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.53 | $600,000 | Listed | [23] | |
| 2006 | Wanna Runner | Victor Espinoza | Bob Baffert | Michael E. Pegram | <templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.88 | $600,000 | Listed | [24] | |
| 2005 | Thor's Echo | Corey Nakatani | Doug O'Neill | Suarez Racing Stable | <templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.59 | $500,000 | Listed | [25] | |
| 2004 | Hi Teck Man | Ricardo Jaime | Johnnie Nall | Hassel R. & Bonnie V. Spraberry | <templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.20 | $500,000 | Listed | [26] | |
| 2003 | Excessivepleasure | Pat Day | Doug O'Neill | Lee & Ty Leatherman | <templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.84 | $500,000 | Listed | [1] | |
See also
References
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