Kentucky Derby: Henry Q brings strong race over track into Sunland Derby
Henry Q will face Southern California shippers Fort Bragg and Hard to Figure on Sunday in the Grade 3, $600,000 Sunland Park Derby.
The 1 1/8-mile race offers Kentucky Derby points to its first five finishers on a scale of 50-20-15-10-5.
Henry Q, who was previously based in Southern California, could go favored when he breaks from post 4 in the seven-horse Sunland Derby. He won the local prep, the $100,000 Mine That Bird Derby, by 14 3/4 lengths on Feb. 28. Edwin Maldonado was aboard for The Del Mar Group and trainer Todd Fincher and again has the mount Sunday.
Fort Bragg will start from post 3 under Juan Hernandez. He started his 3-year-old season March 4 with a fifth-place finish in the Grade 2 San Felipe at Santa Anita.
Hard to Figure will break from post 6 under Flavien Prat. He was second by a neck in the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis in his most recent start Feb. 4 at Santa Anita. He is trained by Bob Baffert and therefore ineligible to earn points for the Kentucky Derby.
Henry Q is one of three entrants who are not nominated to the Triple Crown; the others are How Did He Do That and Wild On Ice. The period for late nominees is open online until Monday. The cost to make a late nomination to the Triple Crown is $6,000.
One in Vermillion will be looking for his fourth straight stakes win when he makes his graded debut in the Sunland Derby. He will break from post 5 under Harry Hernandez.
The complete field from the rail with riders is: How Did He Do That, Alfredo Juarez, Jr.; Low Expectations, Mario Gutierrez; Fort Bragg, Hernandez; Henry Q, Maldonado; One in Vermillion, H. Hernandez; Hard to Figure, Prat; Wild On Ice, Ken Tohill.
The Sunland Derby goes as the 10th race, with an approximate post time of 4:45 p.m. Mountain. It’s being showcased on a card of seven stakes. The forecast calls for mostly sunny skies and a high of 70 degrees, according to AccuWeather.
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