The Sunland Park Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Sunland Park Racetrack in Sunland Park, New Mexico. Inaugurated in 2003, the race is open to three-year-olds willing to race one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt and is sponsored by WinStar Farm of Versailles, Kentucky. Held in March, the Sunland Derby currently offers a purse of $400,000.

Sunland Park Derby
Grade III race
LocationSunland Park Racetrack
Sunland Park, New Mexico, United States
Inaugurated2003
Race typeThoroughbred - Flat racing
Websitewww.sunland-park.com/winstar.htm
Race information
Distance1+116 miles
SurfaceDirt
Trackleft-handed
QualificationThree-year-olds
WeightFillies: 117 lbs.
Colts & Geldings: 122 lbs
Purse$400,000 (2023)

In its 11th year in 2013, it received Grade III status from the American Graded Stakes Committee for the first time in 2010.[1] It is listed as an official Kentucky Derby prep race.

The 2016 running of the Sunland Derby was cancelled due to an outbreak of Equine herpesvirus 1.[2]

The 2020 running & 2021 running of the Sunland Derby was cancelled due to an outbreak of COVID-19.

Records

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Speed record:

  • 1+116 miles: 1:42.44 – Stronghold (2024)
  • 1+18 miles: 1:46.94 – Cutting Humor (2019)

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by an owner:

Winners

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Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time
2024 Stronghold Antonio Fresu Philip D’Amato Eric M. Waller & Sharon Waller 1116 miles 1:42.64
2023 Wild On Ice Ken S. Tohill Joel H. Marr Frank Sumpter Jr. 118 miles 1:51.39
2022 Slow Down Andy Mario Gutierrez Doug O'Neill Reddam Racing 118 miles 1:50.16
2021 Not run due to the COVID-19 pandemic[3]
2020
2019 Cutting Humor John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Starlight Racing 118 miles 1:46.94
2018 Runaway Ghost Tracy J. Hebert Todd W. Fincher Joe Peacock 118 miles 1:49.20
2017 Hence Alfredo J. Juarez, Jr. Steven M. Asmussen Calumet Farm 118 miles 1:48:10
2016 Not run due to an outbreak of Equine herpesvirus[2]
2015 Firing Line Gary Stevens Simon Callaghan Arnold Zetcher 118 miles 1:47.39
2014 Chitu Martin Garcia Bob Baffert Tanma Corporation 118 miles 1:47.88
2013 Govenor Charlie Martin Garcia Bob Baffert Michael E. Pegram 118 miles 1:47.54
2012 Daddy Nose Best Julien Leparoux Steven M. Asmussen Cathy Zollars & Robert Zollars 118 miles 1:48.59
2011 Twice the Appeal Christian S. Reyes Jeff Bonde Edward J. Brown Jr., Victor Flores & Henry Hernandez 118 miles 1:50.91
2010 Endorsement Robby Albarado Shannon Ritter WinStar Farm 118 miles 1:48.46
2009 Kelly Leak Mike E. Smith Mike Machowsky Blahut Racing, Dennis Avila & Dave Johnson 118 miles 1:50.02
2008 Liberty Bull Gerard Melancon Tom Amoss Kenneth Maier 118 miles 1:49.82
2007 Song of Navarone Victor Espinoza Henry Dominguez George E. Coleman 118 miles 1:49.53
2006 Wanna Runner Victor Espinoza Bob Baffert Michael E. Pegram 118 miles 1:48.88
2005 Thor's Echo Corey Nakatani Doug O'Neill Suarez Racing Stable 118 miles 1:49.59
2004 Hi Teck Man Ricardo Jaime Johnnie Nall Hassel Spraberry & Bonnie Spraberry 1116 miles 1:43.20
2003 Excessivepleasure Pat Day Doug O'Neill Lee Leatherman & Ty Leatherman 1116 miles 1:42.84

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Two Fewer Graded Stakes in 2010
  2. ^ a b Lintner, Jonathan (6 March 2016). "Sunland Park cancels key Ky. Derby, Oaks preps". www.courier-journal.com. The Courier-Journal. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  3. ^ Maryland, New Mexico Close Tracks, Simulcast Facilities