2022 Kentucky Derby trail: Sunland Park Derby odds, picks
For the first time since 2019, the Road to the Kentucky Derby will wind Sunday through New Mexico.
Slow Down Andy (2-1) is favored on the morning line for the Grade 3, $500,000 Sunland Park Derby. Post time from Sunland Park is 7:15 p.m. EDT, with TVG showing the 1 1/8-mile trip for 3-year-olds.
This race was canceled each of the last two seasons because of COVID’s effects on the New Mexico racing industry. The race was last conducted in 2019 when Cutting Humor scored for trainer Todd Pletcher.
The Sunland Park Derby awards Road to the Kentucky Derby points to its top four finishers on a 50-20-10-5 basis. Fifty points has been enough to make the Derby starting gates each year since Churchill Downs instituted the points system in 2013.
Favorite Slow Down Andy already has competed in such a prep race, running Feb. 19 at Fair Grounds in the Risen Star Stakes (G2). He was never better than fifth at any call and settled for a non-threatening sixth place finish.
Trainer Doug O’Neill adds blinkers for the Nyquist colt Sunday at Sunland. Jockey Mario Gutierrez flies in from Southern California to pilot the 2021 Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) winner.
Straight Up G (5-2) is another California-bred invader for trainer Richard Baltas. He shipped in from the Golden State to win the local Mine That Bird Derby on Feb. 27 and now looks to punch a Kentucky Derby ticket Saturday.
Trainer Steve Asmussen has a pair of Sunland Park Derby entrants in Mine That Bird third-place runner Classic Moment (7-2) and Costa Terra (8-1), who has failed to hit the board in two prior Derby trail starts. Bye Bye Bobby (9-2), runner-up in both the Mine That Bird and the Riley Allison Derby, is the top local hope for trainer Todd Fincher.
Mine That Bird finished fourth in the 2009 Sunland Park Derby before he shocked the Kentucky Derby with a late-running rail ride. Firing Line won this event in 2015, then was second to American Pharoah in Kentucky.
Related: Sunday Plays: Local horse is capable in Sunland Derby | Sunland Derby analysis: Taking a stand against Straight Up G
Here is a look at the field for the 2022 Sunland Park Derby (trainer and jockey in parentheses) with morning-line odds:
1. Costa Terra (Steve Asmussen, Luis Negron), 8-1
2. Classic Moment (Steve Asmussen, Joel Rosario), 7-2
3. Fowler Blue (Luis Mendez, Edwin Maldonado), 20-1
4. Slow Down Andy (Doug O’Neill, Mario Gutierrez), 2-1
5. Bye Bye Bobby (Todd Fincher, Roimes Chirinos), 9-2
6. Pepper Spray (Edward Kereluk, Luis Valenzuela), 15-1
7. Chrome King (Miguel Hernandez, Enrique Garcia), 15-1
8. Straight Up G (Richard Baltas, Ricardo Gonzalez), 5-2
TimeformUS’ pace projections show Straight Up G going to the front under jockey Ricardo Gonzalez, with favorite Slow Down Andy among a trio of runners taking up behind the leader.
Kentucky Derby points standings
Twenty spots are available in the Kentucky Derby starting gates. Eighteen are available for the top points scorers on the North American trail – which includes Saturday’s UAE Derby (G2) – while one invitation can be extended to the top Triple Crown-nominated point earners on both the European and Japanese trails.
Here is a look at the current projected field, with points earned:
1. Epicenter, 164
2. Crown Pride, 100
3. Classic Causeway, 66
4. Un Ojo, 54
5. Simplification, 54
6. Forbidden Kingdom, 50
7. Morello, 50
8. Zozos, 40
9. Smile Happy, 30
10. Pioneer of Medina, 25
11. Grantham, 21
12. Rattle N Roll, 20
13. Ethereal Road, 20
14. Island Falcon, 20
15. In Due Time, 20
16. Dean’s List, 20
17. Barber Road, 18
18. Pappacap, 14
*19. Zandon, 14
Japan – Geraldo Barrows, 14
*No points-scoring runners on the European Road to the Kentucky Derby were Triple Crown nominated as of Saturday afternoon, so a 19th spot is currently available for North American qualifiers.
Related: Epicenter sets track record, wins $1 million Louisiana Derby | Crown Pride qualifies for Kentucky Derby with win in UAE Derby | 3-for-3 filly Delicada wins Japan's final Kentucky Derby prep
Kentucky Oaks trail
Sunday’s action also includes the Sunland Park Oaks, a race that awards Road to the Kentucky Oaks points on a 50-20-10-5 basis. Here is a look at that event, which can be seen on TVG.
6:12 p.m. – $300,000 Sunland Park Oaks, 3-year-old fillies, 1 1/16 miles
Optionality (3-1), a stakes winner at both Remington Park and Zia Park, looks for a bounce back here after running sixth Feb. 26 at Oaklawn Park in the Honeybee Stakes (G3). Jockey Joel Rosario, after riding Saturday at Fair Grounds, comes to New Mexico to get a leg up on the Gun Runner filly for trainer Steve Asmussen. Peter Eurton trains Queen of Thorns (4-1), runner-up Feb. 6 at Santa Anita in the Las Virgenes Stakes (G3). Miss Hard Knocks (5-1) owns back-to-back wins at Sunland, including Island Fashion Stakes on Feb. 27, for trainer Bart Hone.
Kentucky Oaks points standings
Fourteen spots are available on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks. Here is a look at the current projected field, with points earned:
1. Echo Zulu, 130
2. Turnerloose, 60
3. Secret Oath, 60
4. Hidden Connection, 57
5. Venti Valentine, 54
6. Kathleen O., 50
7. Shahama, 50
8. Magic Circle, 23
9. Goddess of Fire, 22
10. Shotgun Hottie, 21
11. Nest, 20
12. Ain’t Easy, 20
13. Favor, 20
14. Classy Edition, 20
Related: Echo Zulu has it tough late but still wins Fair Grounds Oaks