Sunland Park Oaks

Last updated
Sunland Park Oaks
Listed stakes race
Location Sunland Park Racetrack, Sunland Park, New Mexico,
United States
Inaugurated2001
Race type Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Race information
Distance1 mile (8 furlongs)
SurfaceDirt
Trackleft-handed
QualificationThree-year-old fillies
Purse$250,000

The Sunland Park Oaks (formerly the WinStar Oaks) is an American Thoroughbred horse race open to three-year-old fillies and mares racing one mile (formerly one and one sixteenth miles) on the dirt. The Oaks, an ungraded stakes event, is currently held in February at Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino (founded in 1959) in New Mexico.

Contents

Once sponsored by WinStar Farm in Kentucky where Distorted Humor and Tiznow stand, the race offers a purse of $250,000. Begun as a one and one sixteenth mile race, then taken down to a mile, it went back to a one and one-sixteenth mile and in 2024 returned again to one mile.

Since 2013, the Oaks has been part of the Road to the Kentucky Oaks, a series of races through which fillies qualify for the Kentucky Oaks. As of 2024, the Sunland Park Oaks offers Kentucky Oaks (G1) qualifying points of 20-10-6-4-2 to the respective top five finishers. [1]

The race was not run in 2016 due to an outbreak of equine herpesvirus. [2] The race was not run in 2020 or 2021 due to the worldwide pandemic. [3]

National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey and Mike E. Smith, as well as jockeys Patrick Valenzuela and Cash Asmussen, all began their careers at Sunland Park.

Records

Speed record:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by an owner:

Winners

YearWinnerJockeyTrainerOwnerDistanceTime
2024Recharge Joel Rosario Steven M. Asmussen Winchell Thoroughbreds 1-1/16 m1:37.27
2023Flying ConnectionAlfredo J. Juarez, Jr.Todd W. FincherBrad King, Randy Andrews, Chris G. Coleman, Jim Cone, Suzanne Kirby & Lee Lewis1-1/16 m1:43.90
2022Cleopatras Charge Jorge Carreno Gary W. CrossSamuel F. Henderson1-1/16 m1:46.33
2021Race not held
2020
2019Chasing Yesterday Drayden Van Dyke Bob Baffert Summer Wind Equine (Jane Lyon)1-1/16 m1:43.18
2018BlamedKen S. TohillJoel H. MarrCleber Massey1-1/16 m1:43.32
2017Ghalia José Ortiz Todd A. Pletcher Sumaya U.S. Stable1-1/16 m1:44.24
2016Race not held
2015Maybellene Victor Espinoza Bob Baffert Natalie J. Baffert 1-1/16 m1:42.90
2014Awesome Baby Mike E. Smith Bob Baffert Kaleem Shah, Inc. 1-1/16 m1:43.80
2013Midnight Lucky Rafael Bejarano Bob BaffertKarl Watson, Mike Pegram & Paul Weitman1-1/16 m1:41.06
2012Princess Arabella Martin Garcia Bob BaffertPeachtree Stable (John P. Fort)1-1/16 m1:43.52
2011 Plum Pretty Martin GarciaBob BaffertPeachtree Stable (John P. Fort)1-1/16 m1:43.18
2010Harissa Tyler Baze David Hofmans Gem, Inc.1-1/16 m1:42.90
2009 Gabby's Golden Gal Victor EspinozaBob BaffertArnold Zetcher1-1/16 m1:43.31
2008Sky Mom Garrett Gomez Steven M. Asmussen Heather Stark1-1/16 m1:44.50
2007 Tough Tiz's Sis Victor EspinozaBob BaffertWatson and Weitman Performances, LLC1-1/16 m1:45.18
2006Sweet FourtyVictor Espinoza Jeffrey L. Mullins Michael House1-1/16 m1:43.73
2005Cee's Irish Corey Nakatani Douglas F. O'Neill Merv Griffin Ranch Co. 1-1/16 m1:44.66
2004Speedy FalconRicardo JaimeHenry DominguezChris G. Coleman1 m1:36.57
2003Island FashionIgnacio PuglisiNick CananiEverest Stable, Inc.1 m1:36.29
2002No Turbulence Daryl Montoya J. Eric KruljacFrank Lewkowitz, Dennis Grenier & Noreen Grenier1 m1:38.11
2001Gems and Gold Daryl Montoya Ramon GonzalezAnthony J. Trujillo & Aimee Trujillo1 m1:38.60

See also

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References

  1. "Stronghold favored in shortened Sunland Derby". kentuckyderby.com. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  2. "Sunland Park Cancels Derby, Oaks". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  3. "Sunland Derby canceled; racetrack and casino temporarily closed as a precaution". ktsm.com. Retrieved 13 February 2024.