Sunland Derby

Sunland Derby

Grade III race
Location	Sunland Park Racetrack Sunland Park, New Mexico, United States
Inaugurated	2003
Race type	Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website	www.sunland-park.com/winstar.htm
Race information
Distance	​1 1⁄8 miles (9 furlongs)
Surface	Dirt
Track	left-handed
Qualification	Three-year-olds
Weight	Fillies: 117 lbs. Colts & Geldings: 122 lbs
Purse	$800,000

The Sunland 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-eighth miles on the dirt and is sponsored by WinStar Farm of Versailles, Kentucky. Held in March, the Sunland Derby currently offers a purse of $800,000.

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

Records

Speed record:

• 1:47.39 - [Firing Line] (2015) (at current distance of 9 furlongs)
• 1:42.84 - Excessivepleasure (2003) (at former distance of 8.5 furlongs)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 2 - Victor Espinoza (2006, 2007)
• 2 - Martin Garcia (2013, 2014)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 3 - Bob Baffert (2006, 2013, 2014)

Most wins by an owner:

• 2 - Michael E. Pegram (2006, 2013)

Winners

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Time
2015	Firing Line	Gary L. Stevens	Simon Callaghan	Arnold Zetcher	1:47.39
2014	Chitu	Martin Garcia	Bob Baffert	Tanma Corporation	1:47.88
2013	Govenor Charlie	Martin Garcia	Bob Baffert	Mike Pegram	1:47.54
2012	Daddy Nose Best	Julien Leparoux	Steve Asmussen	Cathy & Robert Zollars	1:48.59
2011	Twice the Appeal	Christian Santiago Reyes	Jeff Bonde	Brown, Flores & Hernandez	1:50.91
2010	Endorsement	Robby Albarado	Shannon Ritter	WinStar Farm	1:48.46
2009	Kelly Leak	Mike E. Smith	Mike Machowsky	Blahut Racing/Avila/Johnson	1:50.02
2008	Liberty Bull	Gerard Melancon	Tom Amoss	Kenneth Maier	1:49.82
2007	Song of Navarone	Victor Espinoza	Henry Dominguez	George E. Coleman	1:49.53
2006	Wanna Runner	Victor Espinoza	Bob Baffert	Michael E. Pegram	1:48.88
2005	Thor's Echo	Corey Nakatani	Doug O'Neill	Suarez Racing Stable	1:49.59
2004	Hi Teck Man	Ricardo Jaime	Johnnie Nall	Hassel & Bonnie Spraberry	1:43.20
2003	Excessivepleasure	Pat Day	Doug O'Neill	Lee & Ty Leatherman	1:42.84

See also

• Road to the Kentucky Derby

References

• Sunland Park
• The 2009 Sunland Derby at the NTRA

• Two Fewer Graded Stakes in 2010