Kentucky Derby prep: Baffert’s Getaway Car is Sunland favorite

Originally considered by trainer Bob Baffert for a trip to the Grade 3 Saudi Derby next weekend, Getaway Car is the 9-5 morning-line favorite Sunday for the 20th running of the $400,000 Sunland Derby.

The New Mexico track’s signature race that goes 1 1/16 miles around two turns is a Kentucky Derby 2025 prep. It is worth 20-10-6-4-2 qualifying points to the top five finishers.

Click here for Sunland Park entries and results.

Bought as a yearling for $700,000 by the SF Racing partnership, Getaway Car won his first two races including the Best Pal (G3) in August at Del Mar. The Curlin colt has not won since, finishing second in the American Pharoah (G1) and Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) and fourth in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Juan Hernández will ride Getaway Car as usual Sunday, starting from post 4.

Turfway Prevue runner-up Touchy (7-2), Del Mar Futurity second-place finisher McKinzie Street (4-1) and 3-for-3 local stakes winner Take Charge Tom (8-1) also are in the field of nine 3-year-olds.

The National Weather Service predicted a sunny day with a high temperature of 63 degrees and light wnd Sunday for the area around El Paso, Texas.

The Sunland Derby will be the ninth race at 6:17 p.m. EST. The 10-race card begins at 2:25 p.m. EST.