Something more than purse money will be on the line this weekend at Sunland Park.
A dream for horsemen of all kinds may well be fulfilled as a field of 12 3-year-olds will vie for not only the lion's share of the $800,000 purse in Sunday's Sunland Derby, but a chance to see their horse walk into the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby on May 6 at Churchill Downs.
Bronze Age, trained by Bob Baffert and slated to be ridden by Martin Garcia, will break from post 3 in the 1 1/8 mile Derby. Owned by Juddmonte Farms and coming off an impressive maiden tally at Santa Anita last month, the son of Mineshaft will be looking to strengthen some strong ties between the race and the trainer.
Baffert has saddled the Sunland Derby winner three times, most recently in 2014 with Chitu. Bronze Age has only gone postward three times in his career, but his maiden win was his first race over a route of ground, indicating he should handle the distance of the Derby, which will go as the ninth race of a 10-race program that has a first post time of 1:30 p.m.
Bronze Age has been installed as the 3-to-1 morning line favorite for the Sunland Derby, which has a scheduled post time of 5:28 p.m. (MTN).
The winner of the Sunland Derby is almost assuredly going to be in the starting gate for the 143rd "Run For the Roses". As a major prep race on the official "Road to the Derby", the winner earns 50 qualifying points. The 20 top point earners from prep races this season are given preference to race for the most prestigious prize in thoroughbred racing.
Currently, Gunnevera, trained by Antonio Sano and most recently the winner of the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park in Florida, sits atop the point standings with 64 points.
The field for the Sunland Derby, in post position order along with riders:
1- SHAREHOLDER VALUE (Javier Castellano)
2- HEDGE FUND (Jose Ortiz)
3- BRONZE AGE (Martin Garcia)
4- OXFORD LANE (Richard Eramia)
5- IRAP (Mario Gutierrez)
6- DILETTANTE (Gary Stevens)
7- KIMBEAR (Joe Talamo)
8- WINE N DIVINE (Miguel Perez)
9- HENCE (Alfredo Juarez, Jr.)
10- BALANDEEN (Channing Hill)
11- TOTAL TAP (Florent Geroux)
12- CONQUEST MO MONEY (Jorge Carreno)
For more information on the Sunland Derby and the rest of an incredible program of racing at Sunland Park, click here.
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Join me along with Sunland Park's marketing director Eric Alwan on FIRST SPORTS this Friday morning at 9am (MTN) to preview the Sunland Derby.
And don't forget to tune in to THE FAST TRACK, weekend mornings at 8am (MTN) for the best handicapping advice on the best races from coast to coast and around the world. The shows can be heard live on FOX AM1340/93.9FM and streamed live through the I Heart Radio app at the link below.