The Sunland Park Oaks (formerly the WinStar Oaks) is an American Thoroughbred horse race open to three-year-old fillies and mares racing one mile (formerly one and one sixteenth miles) on the dirt. The Oaks, an ungraded stakes event, is currently held in February at Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino (founded in 1959) in New Mexico.
Once sponsored by WinStar Farm in Kentucky where Distorted Humor and Tiznow stand, the race offers a purse of $250,000. Begun as a one and one sixteenth mile race, then taken down to a mile, it went back to a one and one-sixteenth mile and in 2024 returned again to one mile.
Since 2013, the Oaks has been part of the Road to the Kentucky Oaks, a series of races through which fillies qualify for the Kentucky Oaks. As of 2024, the Sunland Park Oaks offers Kentucky Oaks (G1) qualifying points of 20-10-6-4-2 to the respective top five finishers.
The race was not run in 2016 due to an outbreak of equine herpesvirus. The race was not run in 2020 or 2021 due to the worldwide pandemic.
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey and Mike E. Smith, as well as jockeys Patrick Valenzuela and Cash Asmussen, all began their careers at Sunland Park.
Records Speed record: 1:41.06 @ 1 1/16 miles: Midnight Lucky (2013) (new track record)
Most wins by a jockey: 4 - Victor Espinoza (2006, 2007, 2009, 2015)
Most wins by a trainer: 9 - Bob Baffert (2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2019, 2026)
Most wins by an owner: 2 - Karl Watson, Paul Weitman (2007, 2013) 2 - Peachtree Stable (2011, 2012) 2 - Chris G. Coleman (2004, 2023)
Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time2026Bottle of RougeJuan J. Hernandez Bob BaffertNatalie J. Baffert1 m1:35.82 2025Runnin N GunninAlfredo J. Juarez, Jr.Steven M. AsmussenDouglas Scharbauer1 m1:40.092024RechargeJoel RosarioSteven M. AsmussenWinchell Thoroughbreds1 m1:37.272023Flying ConnectionAlfredo J. Juarez, Jr.Todd W. FincherBrad King, Randy Andrews, Chris G. Coleman, Jim Cone, Suzanne Kirby & Lee Lewis1-1/16 m1:43.902022Cleopatras ChargeJorge CarrenoGary W. CrossSamuel F. Henderson1-1/16 m1:46.332021 Race not held20202019Chasing YesterdayDrayden Van DykeBob BaffertSummer Wind Equine (Jane Lyon)1-1/16 m1:43.182018BlamedKen S. TohillJoel H. MarrCleber Massey1-1/16 m1:43.322017GhaliaJosé OrtizTodd A. PletcherSumaya U.S. Stable1-1/16 m1:44.242016 Race not held2015MaybelleneVictor EspinozaBob BaffertNatalie J. Baffert1-1/16 m1:42.902014Awesome BabyMike E. SmithBob BaffertKaleem Shah, Inc.1-1/16 m1:43.802013Midnight Lucky Rafael BejaranoBob BaffertKarl Watson, Mike Pegram & Paul Weitman1-1/16 m1:41.062012Princess Arabella Martin GarciaBob BaffertPeachtree Stable (John P. Fort)1-1/16 m1:43.522011Plum PrettyMartin GarciaBob BaffertPeachtree Stable (John P. Fort)1-1/16 m1:43.182010Harissa Tyler BazeDavid HofmansGem, Inc.1-1/16 m1:42.902009Gabby's Golden GalVictor EspinozaBob BaffertArnold Zetcher1-1/16 m1:43.312008Sky MomGarrett GomezSteven M. AsmussenHeather Stark1-1/16 m1:44.502007Tough Tiz's SisVictor EspinozaBob BaffertWatson and Weitman Performances, LLC1-1/16 m1:45.182006Sweet Fourty Victor EspinozaJeffrey L. MullinsMichael House1-1/16 m1:43.732005Cee's Irish Corey NakataniDouglas F. O'NeillMerv Griffin Ranch Co.1-1/16 m1:44.662004Speedy Falcon Ricardo JaimeHenry Dominguez Chris G. Coleman 1 m1:36.572003Island Fashion Ignacio PuglisiNick CananiEverest Stable, Inc.1 m1:36.292002No Turbulence Daryl MontoyaJ. Eric Kruljac Frank Lewkowitz, Dennis Grenier & Noreen Grenier 1 m1:38.112001Gems and Gold Daryl MontoyaRamon Gonzalez Anthony J. Trujillo & Aimee Trujillo 1 m1:38.60
See also Road to the Kentucky Oaks
References
External links Sunland Park