Mucho Gusto early favorite off the rail in Sunland Derby

Mucho Gusto will break from the rail in a field of 10 for the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby on March 24. He was installed as the 8-5 morning line favorite during a ceremonial draw of post positions Sunday at Sunland Park in New Mexico.

The Sunland Derby will reward its first four finishers with Kentucky Derby eligibility points on a sliding scale of 50-20-10-5. The 1 1/8-mile race also anchors a 12-race program at Sunland. There are seven stakes on the card worth a cumulative $1.5 million.

The $200,000 Sunland Park Oaks drew a field of nine led by Grade 1 winners Bellafina and Chasing Yesterday. Bellafina, however, is unlikely to start. Trainer Simon Callaghan said Sunday that she is being targeted to the Santa Anita Oaks, with the backup plan the Sunland Oaks. Bellafina is scheduled to work Monday at Santa Anita.

Mucho Gusto is coming off a 4 3/4-length win in the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis on Feb. 2 at Santa Anita. Trainer Bob Baffert has given the mount to Joe Talamo. Mucho Gusto, a winner of 3 of 4 starts, races for Michael Lund Petersen.

The chief threat to the favorite could be Anothertwistafate, who will break from post 2. He comes off a seven-length win in the $100,000 El Camino Real Derby on Feb. 16 at Golden Gate. Trainer Blaine Wright has given the mount to Juan Hernandez. Anothertwistafate races for Peter Redekop.

A flight bringing horses from California was due to arrive Wednesday, according to Sunland director of racing Dustin Dix.

The complete Sunland Derby field from the rail with riders is: Mucho Gusto, Joe Talamo; Anothertwistafate, Juan Hernandez; Hustle Up, Shane Laviolette; Wicked Indeed, Luis Contreras; Cutting Humor, John Velazquez; Walker Stalker, Alejandro Medellin; Pasamonte Man, Ken Tohill; Collusionist, Alfredo Juarez Jr.; Diamond Blitz, Kent Desormeaux; and Eye Cloud, Isaiah Enriquez.

The Sunland Derby is scheduled as the 11th race with an approximate post of 5:30 p.m. Mountain.

The Sunland Park Oaks will be 1 1/16 miles. The first four finishers will earn Kentucky Oaks eligibility points on a scale of 50-20-10-5.

The field for the Sunland Oaks from the rail with riders is: Victim of Love, Ry Eikleberry; Parade of Roses, Joe Talamo; Figure, Ken Tohill; Peaceoutyourhonor, Frank Reyes; Backflash, Luis Contreras; K P Slickem, Tyler Baze; Chasing Yesterday, Drayden Van Dyke; Enlisting, Juan Hernandez; and Bellafina, Flavien Prat.

All Out Blitz is part of the field for the $100,000 Bill Thomas Memorial, with Baze named to ride by Callaghan.

The forecast for March 24 at Sunland is sunny skies and a high of 73 degrees, according to The Weather Channel. First post for the meet’s biggest program is 12:50 p.m. Mountain.

- additional reporting by Brad Free