Imperial Eagle class of field for Hobbs America Quarter Horse Derby

The champion Imperial Eagle will be a short-priced favorite Sunday, when he attempts to win his fourth race in six starts this year in the Grade 3, $151,500 Hobbs America Quarter Horse Derby at Zia Park.

The race is one of two stakes on the card, along with the Grade 2, $201,550 Hobbs America Futurity for Quarter Horses.

Imperial Eagle was voted champion 2-year-old last year after winning the $3 million All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs, the Grade 1 Southwest Juvenile Invitational at Zia, and the $200,000 Winter Juvenile at Sunland Park.

Imperial Eagle has been favored in all five of his starts this year, winning two trial races and the $100,000 Mr Jess Perry at Ruidoso Downs. He set the fastest qualifying time for the Hobbs America Derby when he won his 440-yard trial in 21.84 seconds. Imperial Eagle romped by 1 3/4 lengths in the trial, run Sept. 24 at Zia.

Imperial Eagle will break from post 10. Esgar Ramirez has the mount for trainer Tony Sedillo. Imperial Eagle, an earner of $1.7 million, races for the Estate of Charles and Christina Robinson.

Also in the 10-horse field is Chainman, who won last year’s Hobbs America Futurity at Zia.

This year’s Hobbs America Futurity is led by Phantom Fury, who set the fastest qualifying time for the 400-yard race when he won his trial in 19.63 lengths. He rolled by two lengths in the trial on Sept. 23.

The chief threat could be Apollitcal Brooke, who is one of five fillies in the finale. She is seeking to win her fourth straight race in a streak launched in a maiden race July 14 at Albuquerque.