New Mexico track firmly on the road to Kentucky Derby after Sunland Derby is graded

Sunland Derby finally gets graded

SUNLAND PARK, N.M. — Sunland Park racetrack officials are celebrating after their signature event, the Sunland Derby, finally was designated a graded stakes race.

The American Graded Stakes Committee made the Sunland Derby a Grade 3 event. It capped a four-year campaign by Sunland Park owner Stan Fulton and placed the $800,000 race, scheduled for March 28, firmly on the path to the Kentucky Derby.

“It was our owner’s dream to have a Kentucky Derby prep race at Sunland Park,” said the track’s racing director, Dustin Dix. “Mr. Fulton was a big reason behind it. He put a lot of his own money into the purse money. He had a vision.”

The designation means the New Mexico race should have greater drawing power to attract top horses and trainers. It offers a substantial purse, which Dix credited to Sunland Park’s casino profits, and graded stakes earnings are used to determine the Kentucky Derby lineup if more than 20 horses enter the sport’s most visible event.

“Now, for all the people running in the Sunland Derby, their goal will be to run in the Kentucky Derby,” Dix said. “But they’re also going after the money.”

The committee also awarded Grade 1 status to the Arkansas Derby, a proving ground for top thoroughbreds like Curlin, Afleet Alex and Smarty Jones.

Several races were elevated to Grade 2: the American Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs, the Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds and the Sir Beaufort Stakes at Santa Anita. The Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows joined the Sunland Derby as Grade 3 races.

Racing fan Dale Dodds of Silver City, N.M., who identified himself as a 26-year horse player at Sunland Park, said he’s excited and curious to see what grading does for the Sunland Derby.

“Any graded stakes, where horses get to be seen in a national light, is good for any track,” Dodds said. “They have slowly been getting better horses to run in the Sunland Derby. The better the competition, the better the standing and the better you’ll be regarded.”

It didn’t hurt Sunland Park’s argument that before winning the Kentucky Derby as a 50-1 long shot, Mine That Bird ran fourth in last spring’s Sunland Derby. The gelding went on to finish second in the Preakness and third in the Belmont.

Mine That Bird was Canada’s 2-year-old champion and had four wins in five starts at Woodbine in Toronto when he was purchased by Mark Allen of Roswell, N.M., who then stabled the gelding at Sunland Park. The New Mexico track is located at the state line near El Paso, Texas.

It wasn’t only Mine That Bird’s performances that lifted the Sunland Derby.

Last spring marked the first time two Sunland Park thoroughbreds raced in the Kentucky Derby. Advice was fifth in the Sunland Derby, won the Grade 2 Lexington Stakes and placed 13th in the Kentucky Derby.

Mythical Power, trained by Bob Baffert, ran second in the Sunland Derby before winning the Grade 3 Lone Star Derby.

“We owe it to our solid runnings,” Dix said. “That’s what put us over the top.”