Derby fever attracts cast from locales far and wide

Horses from major winter meets around the country will converge on New Mexico on Sunday to chase after the $800,000 purse of the Grade 3 Sunland Derby and its 85 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby.

Bronze Age, a member of Daily Racing Form’s Derby Watch top 20, represents Santa Anita, along with Irap and Kimbear. Hedge Fund has flown in from Gulfstream Park. Balandeen, Dilettante, Hence, and Oxford Lane shipped over from Oaklawn, and Shareholder Value and Total Tap are in from Fair Grounds.

They are part of a 12-horse field for the 1 1/8-mile Sunland Derby that also includes locals Conquest Mo Money and Wine N Divine. The group features a handful of lightly raced horses – developing 3-year-olds who could be on the verge of a breakout performance six weeks from the Kentucky Derby.

“They’re all changing so quickly this time of year, whether maiden or multiple winner,” said Doug O’Neill, the trainer of 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist who will be seeking his third Sunland Derby when he sends out the Grade 1-placed maiden Irap.

Trainer Steve Asmussen, who also has won the Sunland Derby, will counter with the up-and-coming Hence and Total Tap.

“I think it’s a very good opportunity for two 3-year-olds who are solid but are on the cusp,” he said.

The Sunland Derby anchors an all-Thoroughbred card featuring seven stakes worth $1.5 million. The program includes the $200,000 Sunland Park Oaks, which drew Grade 1 winner Noted and Quoted. Points for the Kentucky Derby will be awarded to the Sunland Derby’s first four finishers on a scale of 50-20-10-5.

SUNLAND DERBY, RACE 9 KEY CONTENDERS

Bronze Age, by Mineshaft Last 3 Beyers: 93-59-51

◗ He enters off a maiden special weight win at a mile Feb. 18 at Santa Anita. It was his first start at two turns, and after he took the field through six furlongs in a brisk 1:10.80, he went on to win in a sharp final time of 1:35.20.

“He was pretty impressive that day,” said Bob Baffert, who trains Bronze Age for Juddmonte Farms. “He kept going. He got a 93 Beyer.”

That number is the best in the Sunland Derby field and should make Bronze Age the favorite. The horse also has been flattered since the win, as the second- and third-place finishers both returned in their next starts to take maiden special weight routes at Santa Anita with Beyers of 82 and 79.

◗ Bronze Age will break from post 3 under Martin Garcia. Hedge Fund, by Super Saver Last 2 Beyers: 82-50

◗ He, too, stepped up his game with the move to two turns last out, when he rolled by four lengths in a maiden special weight at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 4 at Gulfstream.

“His last race was a pretty good maiden win, and so we wanted to give him a chance to try a little tougher company,” said Todd Pletcher, who trains Hedge Fund for WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, and SF Racing. “We felt like this was a good fit for him.”

◗ Hedge Fund’s sire won the Kentucky Derby for WinStar and Pletcher, while his dam, Rosy Humor, produced the Grade 2-winning millionaire Stanford.

◗ Jose Ortiz has the mount from post 2.

Conquest Mo Money, by Uncle Mo Last 3 Beyers: 76-74-64

◗ He’s the most accomplished member of the field as an undefeated stakes winner, having accounted for both local preps, the Riley Allison by 11 lengths on Jan. 29 and the Mine That Bird Derby at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 26.

“I think he’s the kind of horse that the longer he goes, he’s going to get better and better,” said Miguel Hernandez, who trains for Judge Lanier Racing. “I think he’s going to like the mile and an eighth.

“He’s improved a lot from the last start. You can see the horse maturing.”

◗ Jorge Carreno has the mount from post 12.

Irap, by Tiznow Last 3 Beyers: 73-88-79

◗ He was second to Mastery in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity at 2 and this season ran second in the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis at Santa Anita. Irap then shipped to Sunland and ran second in the Mine That Bird Derby under regular rider Mario Gutierrez in his last start.

“We’re putting blinkers back on him,” O’Neill said. “Mario just thought he kind of lost his focus a little bit there turning for home. With blinkers on, maybe we can turn the tables. We’ll see if it works.”

C OADY PHOTOGRAPHY Conquest Mo Money comes into the Sunland Derby after winning both local stakes preps.