The Sunland Park Derby is a Listed American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds over a distance of miles on the dirt scheduled annually in February at Sunland Park Racetrack in Sunland Park, New Mexico. The event currently offers a purse of $500,000.

History The event was inaugurated on March 30, 2003, as the WinStar Derby after sponsorship by WinStar Farm of Versailles, Kentucky. The purse allotted was $500,000 which was a major attraction to the track. Previously, Sunland Park has hosted an event known as the Riley Allison Derby. However, the purse offered for the event was a fraction of what the new event. Later the Riley Allison Derby was moved to January. Today it is known as the Riley Allison Stakes and it is a preparation event for the Sunland Park Derby.

In 2005 the distance of the event was increased to miles. In 2009 the event was renamed as the Sunland Derby and the purse was increased to $900,000. The fourth-place finisher in that event, Mine That Bird followed that effort with a stunning victory in the Kentucky Derby.

For the event's 11th running in 2010, it received Grade III status from the American Graded Stakes Committee for the first time. Since 2013 the event is an official Road to the Kentucky Derby prep race with qualification points offered.

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

In 2019 the event was run as the Sunland Park Derby.

The 2020 and 2021 running of the Sunland Park Derby was cancelled due to an outbreak of COVID-19. The purse for the event was decrease substantially in 2022 to $500,000 when the event was resumed.

In 2024 the distance was decreased to miles and the event was moved in the racing calendar to mid-February.

In 2025 the event was downgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to Listed status.

Records Speed record: miles: 1:42.64 – Stronghold (2024) & Getaway Car (2025) miles: 1:46.94 – Cutting Humor (2019)

Margins lengths – Firing Line (2015)

Most wins by a jockey: 2 - Victor Espinoza (2006, 2007) 2 - Martin Garcia (2013, 2014)

Most wins by a trainer: 4 - Bob Baffert (2006, 2013, 2014, 2025) 4 - Doug F. O'Neill (2003, 2005, 2022, 2026)

Most wins by an owner: 2 - Michael E. Pegram (2006, 2013) 2 - Reddam Racing (2022, 2026)

Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefSunland Park Derby2026Pavlovian Edwin MaldonadoDoug F. O'NeillReddam Racing miles1:42.22$500,000Listed2025 Getaway Car Juan J. Hernandez Bob BaffertSF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital & Catherine Donovan miles 1:42.64 $400,000 Listed2024 Stronghold Antonio Fresu Philip D’Amato Eric M. Waller & Sharon Waller miles 1:42.64 $400,000 III2023 Wild On Ice Ken S. Tohill Joel H. Marr Frank Sumpter Jr. miles 1:51.39 $600,000 III2022 Slow Down Andy Mario GutierrezDoug F. O'Neill Reddam Racing miles 1:50.16 $500,000 III2021Not run due to the COVID-19 pandemic20202019 Cutting Humor Todd A. Pletcher Starlight Racing miles 1:50.16 $800,000 IIISunland Derby2018 Runaway Ghost Tracy J. Hebert Todd W. Fincher Joe Peacock miles 1:49.20 $800,000 III2017Hence Calumet Farm miles 1:48.10 $800,000 III2016Not run due to an outbreak of Equine herpesvirus2015 Firing Line Gary L. Stevens Arnold Zetcher miles 1:47.39 $800,000 III2014 Chitu Martin Garcia Bob Baffert Tanma Corporation miles 1:47.88 $800,110 III2013 Govenor Charlie Martin Garcia Bob Baffert Michael E. Pegram miles 1:47.54 $800,000 III2012 Daddy Nose Best Julien Leparoux Steven M. Asmussen Cathy & Robert Zollars miles 1:48.59 $800,000 III2011 Twice the Appeal Christian S. Reyes Jeffrey L. Bonde Edward J. Brown Jr., Victor Flores & Henry Hernandez miles 1:50.91 $800,000 III2010 Endorsement Robby Albarado Shannon Ritter WinStar Farm miles 1:48.46 $800,000 III2009 Kelly Leak Mike E. Smith Mike Machowsky Blahut Racing, Dennis Avila & Dave Johnson miles 1:50.02 $900,000 ListedWinStar Derby2008 Liberty Bull Gerard Melancon Thomas M. Amoss Kenneth Maier miles 1:49.82 $600,000 Listed2007 Song of Navarone Victor Espinoza Henry Dominguez George E. Coleman miles 1:49.53 $600,000 Listed2006 Wanna Runner Victor EspinozaBob BaffertMichael E. Pegram miles 1:48.88 $600,000 Listed2005Thor's EchoCorey NakataniDoug F. O'NeillSuarez Racing Stable miles 1:49.59 $500,000 Listed2004 Hi Teck Man Ricardo Jaime Johnnie Nall Hassel R. & Bonnie V. Spraberry miles 1:43.20 $500,000 Listed2003 Excessivepleasure Pat DayDoug F. O'NeillLee & Ty Leatherman miles 1:42.84 $500,000 Listed

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

References