2017 Sunland Derby Preview, Entries & Odds

OffTrackBetting.com - The G3 Sunland Park will be contested Sunday, March 26 at Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino in Sunland Park, New Mexico. Three year olds will take part I this "Road to the Kentucky Derby" qualifier when they take to Sunland Park's dirt track and race 1 1/8 miles for the winner's share of the $800,000 purse and the 50-20-10-5 qualifying points awarded for the first through fourth place finishers.

A full field of 12 will give it a go in the Sunland Derby - race 9 on Sunland Park's Sunday schedule. Post time is 5:28 PM. Let's take a glance into the past performances of all 12 combatants for this lucrative and important G3 stakes.

2017 Sunland Derby Entries at Sunland Park

Bronze Age 3-1 - Bob Baffert trained colt has one win in his three career starts. He started his career with an eighth and a sixth respectively but most recently broke maiden impressively in wire-to-wire fashion by 1 1/2 lengths February 8 - all results at Santa Anita. Bronze Age makes an enormous step up in competition of a career best effort, has been training very well ahead of this weekend and hopes the momentum carries on from post 3. Martin Garcia has been tabbed to ride the up-and-coming morning line favorite.

Conquest Mo Money 9-2 - Miguel Hernandez trained colt has three career starts and three nice wins - all on this track. Last time out was in the minor Mine That Bird Stakes by an easy two lengths February 26 after his wins in the minor Riley Allison Stakes January 29 and a MSW January 6. Conquest Mo Money knows this track well and hasn't been touched so far here - he is the true local hope in this race and will have Jorge Carreno in the irons of the lone stakes winner in the field from the outside gate 12.

Bet Sunland Park Horse Racing with OffTrackBetting.com

Irap 6-1 - Doug O'Neill trained colt has two seconds and a third place finish in his six career starts. He started his career with a third and a fourth respectively in a pair of MSW races and went on to a very respectable runner-up finish in the G1 Los Alamitos Cash Call Futurity December 10. He enters on the heels of consecutive runner-up finishes - behind Conquest Mo Money in the minor Mine That Bird Derby last time out on this track February 26 and the G2 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita February 4. Those results followed a disappointing fourth behind Sheer Flattery after tiring as 9-5 favorite in a MSW at Santa Anita December 31. Irap has been knocking on the door and will be after his first career win Saturday from post 5. Mario Gutierrez has the mount.

Shareholder Value 6-1 - Thomas Amoss trained colt has two wins and a third place finish in his seven career starts. He hasn't been great in stakes company lately - a sixth last time out in the G2 Risen Star Stakes February 25 followed a fifth in the G3 LeComte Stakes January 21 - both at Fair Grounds. Before that was an Allowance Optional Claiming score on that track December 26 and a sixth in the G2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs in November. Shareholder Value hasn't shown much against top company but hopes to change all of that around Sunday from the rail. Javier Castellano rides.

Hedge Fund 6-1 - will hit the track for just the third time Sunday for trainer Todd Pletcher having posted one win so far - that coming last time out in a MSW at Gulfstream Park February 4. He was fifth in his debut on that track December 14. Hedge Fund steps up in so-so form and will have Jose Ortiz in the saddle from gate 2.

Balandeen 10-1 - Chris Hartman trained colt has two wins, a second and a third place finish in his seven career starts. Last time out was an OK third in the minor Gazebo Stakes at Oaklawn Park March 4 after a fifth in the $1,000,000 Delta Downs Jackpot November 19, a second in the minor Street Sense Stakes at Churchill Downs October 30 and two straight wins - the best of which was an Allowance Optional Claiming at Churchill Downs in September. Balandeen has placed in four of his last five starts overall and will be after his first stakes score from gate 10 Sunday. Channing Hill is scheduled to ride.

Total Tap 10-1 - has two wins in five career starts for trainer Steve Asmussen. Last time out was one of those wins - an Allowance Optional Claiming at Fair Grounds February 18. Before that was a seventh in a similar race on that track January 14, an eleventh in his only stakes action to date - the G2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs in November and a fourth in an Allowance at Keeneland in October. Total Tap hadn't been impressive at all before last time out and hopes to build off that momentum from post 11. Florent Geroux gets the call.

Hence 12-1 - Steve Asmussen trained colt has a win, a second and a third place finish in his five career starts. He made his stakes debut last time out and finished a disappointing seventh in the G3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park February 20 after a maiden score on that track January 16 and a second, a third and a seventh respectively in MSW races to start his career. Hence has been just OK so far in his career and hopes to make a strong statement Sunday from post 9. Alfredo Juarez Jr. will be in the irons.

Dilettante 12-1 - has just one win and two runner-up finishes in nine career starts for trainer D Wayne Lukas. He made his stakes debut last time out and finished fifth in the G3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park February 20 after he finally broke maiden on that track January 29. Before that was a fourth, a second and a fifth in a trio of MSW races. Outside of one good effort, Dillettane hasn't been all that impressive. He searches for a breakthrough performance Sunday with Gary Stevens guiding him from gate 6.

Kimbear 15-1 - has placed in five of six career starts for trainer J. Eric Kruljac - one win, one second and three third place finishes. He makes his stakes debut Sunday having finally broken maiden last time out - at Santa Anita February 25. Before that was a third and a second respectively in a pair of MSW races in Southern California. Kimbear has been trending upward and hopes his recent success translates in his step up in competition. Joe Talamo gets the call from post 7.

Oxford Lane 15-1 - Kenneth McPeek trained colt has placed in all four career starts - one win, two seconds and a third place finish. He makes his stakes debut Sunday having finally broken maiden last time out - at Oaklawn Park March 4. Before that were a pair of seconds in MSW races and a third in his debut - at Churchill Downs in June. Oxford Lane has been trending upward and steps up looking to make a name for himself with Richard Eramia in the reins from gate 4.

Wine N Divine 30-1 - Greg Green trained gelding has one win and six runner-up finishes in 10 career starts. Last time out was a fourth in the minor Mine That Bird Stakes here February 26 after a second in an Allowance February 14 and another second in the minor Riley Allison Stakes January 29 - all three on this track. He posted runner-up finishes in his previous three starts as well including the minor Lost in the Fog Juvenile Stakes at Turf Paradise December 31. Wine N Divine has been decent lately but still has yet to claim a stakes victory. Miguel Perez has been tabbed with changing all of that from gate 8 Sunday.

---

2017 Sunland Derby Odds & Entries

Race 9 on Sunland Park's Sunday card with a Post Time of 7:28 PM.