Mine That Bird winner Sir Rick to return for Sunland Park Derby

Sir Rick is being pointed for the Grade 3, $700,000 Sunland Park Derby on March 22, trainer Robertino Diodoro said on Monday. The horse will enter the mile and an eighth race off a win in the $100,000 Mine That Bird Derby, the local prep which was run Sunday.

The Sunland Derby offers Kentucky Derby qualifying points on a scale of 50-20-10-5.

Sir Rick earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 80 for his four-length win in the Mine That Bird Derby. It was the first stakes victory for the horse, who invaded off an allowance win at Sam Houston. Sir Rick on Monday shipped to a division Diodoro has at Turf Paradise.

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“It’s just a shorter drive,” Diodoro said. “He’s back there, and he’s going to train there and get ready for the Sunland Derby.”

Francisco Arrieta rode Sir Rick on Sunday and has the mount in the Sunland Derby, said Diodoro. The horse will be the first Sunland Derby starter for Diodoro, who has won a pair of derbies in New Mexico, taking the Zia Park Derby in both 2011 with First Strike and 2018 with Nanoosh.

Sir Rick races for Richard Davis.

◗ Jockey Jon Court will miss the remainder of the Oaklawn season due to a collapsed lung sustained when he was thrown by a mount prior to a recent race, agent Steve Krajcir told publicity at Oaklawn.

◗ Diodoro said no next-race plans have been set yet for Pioneer Spirit, who this winter has won stakes at Fair Grounds and Oaklawn.