Fusa Code may try Sunland Derby

Fusa Code, who won his maiden in the $100,000 Borderland Derby last weekend at Sunland Park, is being considered for a start in the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby, said his trainer, Steve Asmussen. The 1 1/8-mile race is March 27.

Fusa Code came into the Borderland off a third-place finish in a maiden special weight route at Santa Anita on Feb. 3. The horse has since returned to Southern California and Asmussen said if he is doing as well as he was up to the Borderland that the Sunland Derby will become an option for Fusa Code.

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“We’re hopeful for the Sunland Park Derby,” he said.

Special Kid, who won the maiden race over Fusa Code, was the favorite in the Borderland and ran third. Fusa Code, meanwhile, was making his fifth start in the Borderland and earned a career-high Beyer of 81.

Fusa Code is By Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus, while his dam, Lasting Code, won her maiden in a stakes. Fusa Code races for Bob and Cathy Zollars.