Super Screener: High-priced horses may rule Sunland Derby

This year’s renewal of the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby is setting up similarly to the last, when Hence came from the clouds, circled the field and blew by the tiring front runners for a dominant win.

The last two times this race was run as a full field with a heavy pressure pace setup, closers completed the exacta. Horse Racing Nation’s Super Screener handicapping system predicts a similar outcome for Sunday’s 2018 Kentucky Derby trail race.

Inspiration for the Super Screener Stakes Weekly analysis came from our loyal Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup Super customers. They have often asked us for a product focused on analyzing the key graded stakes that run each weekend throughout the year.

What's offered here -- for free -- is only a small sample of the full Super Screener now available.

The Sunland Derby pace setup features crushing pressure up front, even if the fractions cut are not suicidal. As many as seven contenders in this field are expected to be battling up front, giving horses with a late energy distribution profile the advantage.

Here’s who the Super Screener sees in the exacta:

#10 Dream Baby Dream (10-1) — A highly pressured pace setup plays well into the Steve Asmussen-trained colt’s late energy distribution profile. He will continue to progress forward in his form cycle and gets blinkers to help with better early race focus. Offers great value!

#4 Hollywood Star (6-1) — He faces easier here and gets that needed added ground. Form cycle analysis projects a big move forward for this grinder, who just submitted his best work in months. Pressured pace will play well into his middle/late energy distribution profile. 

For full-field Sunland Derby analysis, plus a wagering guide on all of this weekend’s featured races, check out HRN’s Super Screener today.