Express Kid transferred to Evans; will head to Sunland Derby

Express Kid, upset winner of the Springboard Mile at Remington Park on Dec. 20, has been transferred from trainer Wade Rarick to Justin Evans after being purchased for $800,000 by Brad and Sharon Kleven in a one-horse digital sale conducted by Fasig-Tipton last week.

Evans said on Sunday that he plans to start Express Kid in the $500,000 Sunland Park Derby at 1 1/16 miles in New Mexico on Feb. 15. Express Kid was based at Turf Paradise on Sunday, and was scheduled to be vanned approximately 420 miles to Sunland Park earlier this week.

Express Kid was previously trained by Wade Rarick for Steve Haahr. A California-bred colt by Bodexpress, Express Kid has won 3 of 5 starts and earned $236,902. In the Springboard Mile, Express Kid led throughout and won by 6 1/4 lengths in his first start around two turns on dirt.

“From everything I’ve seen, he’s all systems go,” Evans said. “Wade Rarick did a phenomenal job. Hopefully, we’re able to continue down the same path.”

With his win in the Springboard Mile, Express Kid earned 10 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 2. The winner of the Sunland Park Derby receives 20 points. In the last year, domestic qualifiers have needed at least 39 points to gain a berth in the Kentucky Derby.

Evans, 42, has trained briefly for the Klevens, of Scottsdale, Ariz.

“It’s the Derby dream,” Evans said. “We’ve all got it.”

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