The Sunland Derby

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.

The race runs March 24th, 2019.