Key prep races for Sunland Derby, Sunland Oaks highlight weekend of horse racing
A big weekend of racing is on tap at Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino. Here is a look at some of the highlights.
Shue Fly Stakes on Saturday
The 50th running of the 400-yard, Shue Fly Stakes for 3-year-old New Mexico-bred quarter horses is the featured race on Saturday.
First Lady On Canvas is the 4-1 morning-line favorite and has won four of eight career starts and will face nine rivals.
El Paso trainer Casey Lambert has Kings Touch in the race and is listed at 6-1 in the morning-line. Kings Touch has finished in the top three in seven of 10 starts.
The rest of the field is as follows: Flashtoglory, Blazin Chamisa, Cq Featured First, Wood Dee Queen, My Heart Jess Runs, Flash Divine, Wahine, Mires a La Luna.
The Shue Fly Stakes is race No. 8 on Saturday and there are a total of nine races.
Sunday's big card
The road to the March 26 Sunland Oaks and Sunland Derby begins Sunday with prep races to each of the racetrack's featured races.
The 6 1/2 furlong Borderplex Stakes for 3-year-old filles is the Oaks prep race and features a small but talented five-horse field. The Todd Fincher trained Flying Connection is the 8-5 morning-line favorite and has won two straight.
Also in the field are Love Tank for trainer Nancy Summers, Fincher's other horse, Christian d'Oro, Steve Asmussen trained Fee and Foolish Delight for trainer Greg Green. The Borderplex Stakes is race No. 6.
The 59th running of one mile Riley Allsion Derby is the prep race for the Derby and features a field of 10 going a mile.
How Did He Do That is the 5-2 morning-line favorite for Asmussen and is a two-time winner. But the local contingent of Sunland trainers boast talented horses. Joel Marr trained Wild On Ice has won both career races and Fincher will send three horses to post: Malmo, Giroovin and American Outlaw. American Outlaw is a Kentucky-bred son of former Kentucky Derby winner Amerian Pharoah.
"It's always an exciting time for the young 3-year-olds," Fincher said. "The one mile race is intriguing in that many horses are doing two turns for the first time. Sometimes you have horses you think can route and have a hard time and vice versa. It'll be a challenge race. We're optimistic."
Marr said he is hopeful for his two-time winner, who is a Texas-bred son of Tapizar.
"Wild On Ice has shown potential, this will be his first time going two turns, so we'll see how he handles it," Marr said.
The Riley Allison Derby is race No. 9 on the card.
Other key races on Sunday include the six furlong Fort Bliss Stakes for 4-year-old thoroughbreds and older. Seven-time winners Mine That Star and Competitive Idea join 2-1 morning-line favorite Chattalot and 16-time winner Minister of Soul in the race. Chattalot is trained by Asmussen and has finished in the top three in eight of 11 starts.
The 6 1/2 furlong Jamsion Memorial Handicap is for New Mexico-breeds, who are four or older. El Paso owners Kirk and Judy Robison will try and win it with Cheese Tray, a winner of six races and who is trained by Fincher.
The Fort Bliss Stakes is race No. 7 and the Jamison Memorial Handicap is race No. 8.
Racing begins at 12:25 p.m. each day.
More: Racing recap Danjer continues winning ways in Grade 1, The Championship at Sunland Park
Felix F. Chavez can be reached at fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezeptimes on Twitter
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Prep races for Sunland Derby, Oaks highlight weekend at Sunland Park
