New Mexico’s Sunland Park hosts the important prep race for the Kentucky Derby. The Sunland Derby runs on the hot desert dirt main track. The race does not have a long history, it was first run in 2003. Sunland Park may not have a long storied past, but Churchill Downs, the location of the Kentucky Derby, sure does. Many qualifying spots are on the line as the top finishers can earn points toward a coveted spot in the Kentucky Derby.
As a result it is no surprise many great trainers have won here. Bob Baffert has won the race three times, In 2016 the race was canceled but returned in 2017 with a vengeance.
