Asmussen runners bring contrasting styles to Sunland Derby

New York Central and Dream Baby Dream will make their first run at Kentucky Derby points on Sunday, when the stablemates start in the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Park Derby. Steve Asmussen trains both horses.

Asmussen also trains Hence, who won the Sunland Derby last year, and Daddy Nose Best, who won the Sunland Derby in 2012.

The field for the Sunland Derby was to be drawn Wednesday. The 1 1/8-mile race awards Kentucky Derby points to its first four finishers on a scale of 50-20-10-5. The $200,000 Sunland Oaks on Sunday offers the identical points structure for the Kentucky Oaks. The races are part of a program of seven stakes worth more than $1.5 million. The card is the richest of the meet at Sunland.

New York Central and Dream Baby Dream, who finished a first and third in an Oaklawn allowance route run right after the Grade 3, $500,000 Southwest Stakes on Feb. 19, bring contrasting styles into the Sunland Derby.

:: ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays

“I think that they’re a very good complement to each other,” Asmussen said. “If the racetrack is favoring speed, New York Central will be very tough, and if they’re closing, Dream Baby Dream will be tough.

“I think the timing of the race is ideal for both of them.”

Asmussen said Ricardo Santana Jr. has the mount on New York Central. The men lead the trainer and rider standings at Oaklawn. Dream Baby Dream will get the services of Alfredo Juarez Jr., the New Mexico-based rider who won last year’s Sunland Derby.

“Dream Baby Dream’s style, I feel, is extremely similar to the way Hence won the race last year, and that’s why I think Alfredo is the perfect fit for him,” said Asmussen.

New York Central races for WinStar Farm, China Horse Club International, and SF Racing. He is a son of Tapit. New York Central’s dam, Fashion Cat, has produced a Grade 2 winner in Corfu and is a half-sister to the multiple Grade 1 winner Peace Rules.

Dream Baby Dream is a son of Into Mischief who races for Dream Baby Dream Racing Stable. Last year at 2 he ran third by a neck in the Spendthrift Farm Juvenile Stallion Stakes at Churchill Downs. During the Oaklawn meet, Dream Baby Dream has run third in allowance races won by Bravazo, the next-out winner of the Grade 2 Risen Star at Fair Grounds, and Title Ready, who returned to run fourth in the Grade 2, $900,000 Rebel last Saturday at Oaklawn.

Asmussen will be active in other races at Sunland on Sunday. He said that Charge Back, a recent allowance winner at Sam Houston, is being pointed for the Sunland Park Oaks and will be ridden by Santana. Counterforce is targeting the $100,000 Bill Thomas Memorial.

Flights bringing horses for the Sunday card were due to arrive Wednesday from Florida and Thursday from California, according to Sunland racing secretary Robbie Junk.

Sunland will offer advance wagering on the Sunland Derby program starting Saturday.

◗ The retired Hall of Fame rider Pat Day and country artist Neal McCoy will participate in a fundraising gala Friday night in the Turf Club at Sunland. Proceeds from the $100-per-seat event will benefit the Alzheimer’s Association.