2023 Sunland Derby Winner Gets 50 Kentucky Derby Qualifying Points

An attractive field of seven, including Hard to Figure and Henry Q will battle for Kentucky Derby qualifying points in the 18th edition of the $600,000 guaranteed, Grade 3 Sunland Derby on Sunday, March 26 at Sunland Park in New Mexico.

The 1 1/8 mile event, which is part of an extraordinary, 11-race card at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino, will be headlined by a pair of local stakes winners as well as several invaders from some of the leading horsemen in the country.

Henry Q, winner of the Mine That Bird Derby here on February 28, as well as Riley Allison Derby winner One In Vermillion, will tangle with several California-based threats including Hard To Figure, Low Expectations and Fort Bragg.

The Sunland Derby (Gr. III) is a major milestone event on the road to the Kentucky Derby, coming up on May 6 at Churchill Downs. The race carries with it 50 points to the winner. Horses with the most points based on their results in prep races are automatically qualified to be entered in the Run for the Roses. Aside from the 50 points to the winner, the second place finisher receives 20 points, the third place finisher 10 points and the fourth place finisher 5 points.

Post time for the Sunland Derby (Gr. III), which will be run as the tenth race on the card, is scheduled for 4:45 p.m. local time. Bet the Sunland Derby online at OffTrackBetting.com (OTB)!

2023 Sunland Derby Entries in Post Position Order

How Did He Do That, breaking from the rail, will be ridden by Alfredo Juarez, Jr. for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. A two-time winner from eight lifetime starts, the son of Good Magic enters the Sunland Derby on a three-race losing streak, having not won a race since capturing the Zia Juvenile Stakes last November at Zia Park. Asmussen is hoping to win his third Sunland Park Derby (Gr. III), having won the event in 2017 with Hence and in 2012 with Daddy Nose Best.

Low Expectations comes into the Sunland Derby on a two-race win streak, having broken his maiden before winning an optional claiming race at Santa Anita earlier this year. Trained by Alan Garcia, the son of 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist will be ridden by Mario Gutierrez, who captured the Sunland Derby (Gr. III) last year aboard Slow Down Andy.

Fort Bragg is trained by Tim Yakteen and exits a fifth-place effort in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes earlier this month at Santa Anita. Prior to that, the son of Tapit was third in the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity in his final start as a 2-year-old. Fort Bragg will be ridden by Juan Hernandez.

Henry Q, owned by the Del Mar Group, will be sent to the track by Sunland Park's leading trainer Todd Fincher. The son of Blame has two wins from four career starts, his most recent win coming at Sunland in the Mine That Bird Derby on Feb. 28. Henry Q romped to victory that day, crossing the wire nearly 15 lengths ahead of his rivals. After breaking his maiden on Feb. 4 at Santa Anita, Henry Q will be looking for his third straight victory and will be ridden by Edwin Maldonado from post 4 in the starting gate. Fincher won the Sunland Derby (Gr. III) in 2018 with Runaway Ghost.

One In Vermillion is a three-time winner from four career starts. He most recently won the Riley Allison Derby here on Jan. 29. Prior to that, the son of Army Mule won a pair of stakes races as a 2-year-old at Turf Paradise in Phoenix. Trained by Esteban Martinez, One In Vermillion will be ridden by Harry Hernandez.

Hard To Figure will represent the barn of Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, a three-time Sunland Derby (Gr. III) winner. The son of Hard Spun most recently was second in the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita. Prior to that, Hard To Figure was fifth in the Bob Hope Stakes at Del Mar last November. Hard To Figure will be ridden by Flavien Prat and has been installed as the 2-to-1 morning line favorite. Baffert is the winningest trainer in Sunland Derby (Gr. III) history, having scored with Chitu in 2014, as well as in 2013 with Govenor Charlie and in 2006 with Wanna Runner.

Wild On Ice won the first two starts of his career as a 2-year-old at Zia Park for trainer Joel Marr before finishing off the board in the Riley Allison Derby and then running third in the Mine That Bird Derby. The son of Tapizar will be ridden by Ken Tohill.

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