| Class | Listed |
|---|---|
| Location | Sunland Park Racetrack Sunland Park, New Mexico, United States |
| Inaugurated | 2003 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Website | www |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1+1⁄16 miles |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Track | left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds |
| Weight | Fillies: 117 lbs. Colts & Geldings: 122 lbs |
| Purse | $400,000 (2023) |
The Sunland Park Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Sunland Park Racetrack in Sunland Park, New Mexico. Inaugurated in 2003, the race is open to three-year-olds willing to race one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt and is sponsored by WinStar Farm of Versailles, Kentucky. Held in March, the Sunland Derby currently offers a purse of $400,000.
In its 11th year in 2013, it received Grade III status from the American Graded Stakes Committee for the first time in 2010. [1] It is listed as an official Kentucky Derby prep race.
The 2016 running of the Sunland Derby was cancelled due to an outbreak of Equine herpesvirus 1. [2]
The 2020 running & 2021 running of the Sunland Derby was cancelled due to an outbreak of COVID-19.
In 2025 the event was downgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to Listed status. [3]
Speed record:
Most wins by a jockey:
Most wins by a trainer:
Most wins by an owner:
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Getaway Car | Juan J. Hernandez | Bob Baffert | SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital & Catherine Donovan | 11⁄16 miles | 1:42.64 |
| 2024 | Stronghold | Antonio Fresu | Philip D’Amato | Eric M. Waller & Sharon Waller | 11⁄16 miles | 1:42.64 |
| 2023 | Wild On Ice | Ken S. Tohill | Joel H. Marr | Frank Sumpter Jr. | 11⁄8 miles | 1:51.39 |
| 2022 | Slow Down Andy | Mario Gutierrez | Doug O'Neill | Reddam Racing | 11⁄8 miles | 1:50.16 |
| 2021 | Not run due to the COVID-19 pandemic [4] | |||||
| 2020 | ||||||
| 2019 | Cutting Humor | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Starlight Racing | 11⁄8 miles | 1:46.94 |
| 2018 | Runaway Ghost | Tracy J. Hebert | Todd W. Fincher | Joe Peacock | 11⁄8 miles | 1:49.20 |
| 2017 | Hence | Alfredo J. Juarez, Jr. | Steven M. Asmussen | Calumet Farm | 11⁄8 miles | 1:48:10 |
| 2016 | Not run due to an outbreak of Equine herpesvirus [2] | |||||
| 2015 | Firing Line | Gary Stevens | Simon Callaghan | Arnold Zetcher | 11⁄8 miles | 1:47.39 |
| 2014 | Chitu | Martin Garcia | Bob Baffert | Tanma Corporation | 11⁄8 miles | 1:47.88 |
| 2013 | Govenor Charlie | Martin Garcia | Bob Baffert | Michael E. Pegram | 11⁄8 miles | 1:47.54 |
| 2012 | Daddy Nose Best | Julien Leparoux | Steven M. Asmussen | Cathy Zollars & Robert Zollars | 11⁄8 miles | 1:48.59 |
| 2011 | Twice the Appeal | Christian S. Reyes | Jeff Bonde | Edward J. Brown Jr., Victor Flores & Henry Hernandez | 11⁄8 miles | 1:50.91 |
| 2010 | Endorsement | Robby Albarado | Shannon Ritter | WinStar Farm | 11⁄8 miles | 1:48.46 |
| 2009 | Kelly Leak | Mike E. Smith | Mike Machowsky | Blahut Racing, Dennis Avila & Dave Johnson | 11⁄8 miles | 1:50.02 |
| 2008 | Liberty Bull | Gerard Melancon | Tom Amoss | Kenneth Maier | 11⁄8 miles | 1:49.82 |
| 2007 | Song of Navarone | Victor Espinoza | Henry Dominguez | George E. Coleman | 11⁄8 miles | 1:49.53 |
| 2006 | Wanna Runner | Victor Espinoza | Bob Baffert | Michael E. Pegram | 11⁄8 miles | 1:48.88 |
| 2005 | Thor's Echo | Corey Nakatani | Doug O'Neill | Suarez Racing Stable | 11⁄8 miles | 1:49.59 |
| 2004 | Hi Teck Man | Ricardo Jaime | Johnnie Nall | Hassel Spraberry & Bonnie Spraberry | 11⁄16 miles | 1:43.20 |
| 2003 | Excessivepleasure | Pat Day | Doug O'Neill | Lee Leatherman & Ty Leatherman | 11⁄16 miles | 1:42.84 |