Improving colts square off in a competitive Sunland Derby

Stronghold, Lucky Jeremy, and Informed Patriot all appear to be sitting on forward moves Sunday in what should make for a competitive renewal of the Grade 3, $400,000 Sunland Park Derby.

The eight-horse field anchors a card of six stakes worth a total of $1 million. It also doles out Kentucky Derby points on a scale of 20-10-6-4-2.

The Sunland Derby is 1 1/16 miles this year. It’s a tad shorter than the traditional 1 1/8-mile distance as the race is being run about five weeks earlier than its typical date in late March.

Stronghold, a member of Daily Racing Form’s Derby Watch, has shipped in from Southern California. He was second by a half-length for trainer Phil D’Amato in the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity in his last start Dec. 16.

“I thought he ran a really good race there,” D’Amato said. “That’s a long, long stretch, first time going long. He kind of got pinballed on the inside, and the inside is not the place you really want to be at Los Al.

“He had no choice but to go up in there. It’s a little deeper in there. He fought valiantly. We’re all proud of him. First time going long, hopefully he continues to improve.”

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Stronghold is a son of Ghostzapper and the Grade 2-winning mare Spectator. He races for his breeders, Eric Waller and Sharon Waller. Stronghold will break from post 5 under regular rider Antonio Fresu.

“He showed pretty nice versatility going long the other day, very tactical in that stalking position,” D’Amato said. “I think Antonio knows him well enough to put him in a position that makes sense pace-wise.

“He’s a very tactical horse – you can put him in any position you want.”

Prior to the Los Alamitos Futurity, Stronghold had run second to Nysos in the Grade 3 Bob Hope at seven furlongs at Del Mar. For his effort last out, Stronghold earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 85.

Lucky Jeremy has won his last two starts, beginning with a maiden special weight over 6 1/2 furlongs in October at Churchill Downs. The Kentucky-based runner then won his two-turn debut in the $100,000 Riley Allison Derby on Jan. 19 at Sunland.

“We’ve been able to keep him at Sunland and train him on the track and we’re hoping that helps us,” trainer William E. Morey said.

Lucky Jeremy won over a mile last out and gets pedigree support for more ground as a son of Lookin At Lucky. For his Riley Allison Derby win, Lucky Jeremy earned a career-high Beyer of 84.

“We all thought he would go a mile,” Morey said. “You never know until you do.”

Morey said Lucky Jeremy has reasons to improve Sunday.

“He wasn’t primed for the best race of his life last time,” he said. “I think he can improve.”

Sunland’s leading rider, Christian Ramos, has the mount for owner Jeremy Ramsland. Lucky Jeremy will start from post 4.

“He has some tactical speed,” Morey said. “I think others will be in front of us. Hopefully, he’ll have some targets to run at.”

In his career debut last September at Churchill, Lucky Jeremy hooked an eventual Grade 2 winner in Honor Marie, who was to have run Saturday in the Risen Star at Fair Grounds.

Informed Patriot is coming off a third-place finish in the 1 1/16-mile Smarty Jones at Oaklawn Park. Smarty Jones winner Catching Freedom also was to have run in the Risen Star.

Informed Patriot, who is a full brother to Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Spun to Run, brings some ascending Beyers into the Sunland Derby. The Steve Asmussen trainee earned a 77 for a third-place finish in a first-level allowance in November at Churchill. From there, Informed Patriot put up an 82 in the Smarty Jones.

Joel Rosario has the mount from post 8 for J. Kirk and Judy Robison.

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Curlin’s Kaos is moving back to dirt after winning a maiden special weight for California-breds on turf Jan. 27 at Santa Anita. The race was his first at two turns. Diego Herrera has the mount for trainer Antonio Garcia.

Alotofluck, Surroundedbyangels, and Da Ringo finished second through fourth in the Riley Allison Derby. No Trouble makes the move to two turns off a sharp maiden special weight win Jan. 18 at Sunland.

No Trouble could be prominent from his rail post, while Surroundedbyangels, who breaks to his immediate outside, also has speed. Lucky Jeremy and Stronghold could be tracking that pair, while Informed Patriot may settle into a stalking position.

The forecast calls for partly cloudy skies and a high of 66, according to AccuWeather.

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