Road to the Derby: Sunland Park Derby analysis

Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Park Derby; 1 1/8 miles; Sunland Park; March 24, 2019

(50 Derby qualifying points for a win, 20 for second, 10 for third, 5 for fourth)

Winner: Cutting Humor, by First Samurai

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: John Velazquez

Owner: Starlight Racing

Beyer Speed Figure: 95

:: DERBY WATCH: Top 20 Kentucky Derby contenders with comments from Jay Privman and Mike Watchmaker

After a slow start to the prep season, Todd Pletcher has found his stride, with his annual tradition of properly placing horses in Derby preps and maximizing their value. CUTTING HUMOR, coming off a troubled trip in the Southwest, was shrewdly sent to New Mexico rather than try anew at Oaklawn, and he picked up a first prize of more than $460,000, plus sufficient points to earn a spot in the Kentucky Derby field.

This might not be Pletcher’s best group ever, but with a second-place finish the previous day from Spinoff in the Louisiana Derby, as well as Outshine’s recent second in the Tampa Bay Derby, his late-developing prospects are starting to come around owing to their trainer’s typical realistic placement this time of year.

In this race, Cutting Humor went into the first turn three to four paths wide while just behind three dueling leaders, then raced alongside ANOTHERTWISTAFATE down the backstretch. He moved up three paths wide on the far turn to engage MUCHO GUSTO and HUSTLE UP, battled with Mucho Gusto to the furlong pole before taking over, and was fully extended to hold off Anothertwistafate. He had a very clean trip. In fact, it was a very clean race overall.

Anothertwistafate, who finished second, was between horses while dueling for the lead around the first turn, then was geared back from that tussle by Juan Hernandez upon entering the backstretch. He then sat right behind two dueling leaders while inside of Cutting Humor, forcing him to wait on the far turn in traffic as the leaders began to tire and Cutting Humor advanced. He was able to angle off the rail and follow Cutting Humor into the lane, then made steady progress through the stretch before coming up short. While many may fault Hernandez for ending up stuck on the far turn, I think there are two reasons he made the right move. First, if he continues to go along with the dueling leaders, he probably suffers the same fate as Mucho Gusto. At least this way, he gave Anothertwistafate a shot at winning. Second, by sitting inside, Anothertwistafate gained invaluable experience taking dirt. Had he stayed wide throughout, for instance, he never would have received that education. This colt proved he can run on dirt and sit a good trip on dirt. Plus, he’s already shown how good he is on synthetic, and he has a pedigree to suggest grass will be just fine, too. There is lots of upside here.

Mucho Gusto, who was third, used his natural speed and rail draw to take the lead into the first turn, with Anothertwistafate and Huddle Up alongside. He led while hounded by Hustle Up down the backstretch and into the far turn while setting sharp fractions (22.76, 45.63, 1:09.63) for a race of this distance, gamely tried to go with Cutting Humor from the quarter pole until near the eighth pole, then tired. The early pace didn’t help, but he probably doesn’t want to run this far and he was five lengths inferior to stable Improbable in the Los Alamitos Futurity, so he’s probably a cut below the best, too.

WICKED INDEED, who was fourth, saved ground while following the three dueling leaders around the first turn, then was stuck in traffic a half-mile out while seeking to get off the rail. He finally got free and ranged up four paths wide on the far turn, but couldn’t stay with Anothertwistoffate coming off the bend and went evenly the rest of the way.

EYE CLOUD, who was fifth, veered out leaving the gate, had no early speed, and was last going into the first turn while in the three path. He remained well back throughout, was three paths wide on the far turn before getting fanned to about the six path coming off the bend, and never got involved.

PASAMONTE MAN, who was sixth, raced in the clear while toward the back half of the field around the first turn, was able to save ground for most of the far turn before drifting to about the three or four path entering the lane, but was always outrun.

Hustle Up, who was seventh, was three paths wide while attending the pace around the first turn, eagerly moved alongside Mucho Gusto entering the backstretch when Anothertwistafate eased back, continued to be part of a quick pace, began to be shoved on midway around the far turn, and was done before reaching the top of the lane.

COLLUSIONIST, who was eighth, tossed his head a couple of times leaving the gate, saved ground around the first turn while racing in the clear in eighth, saved ground on the far turn, but was always well back.

WALKER STALKER, who finished last of nine, went into the first turn four to five paths wide while outside of Cutting Humor, never could get over, went into the far turn while about four paths wide, then dropped back beginning three furlongs out after failing to keep Wicked Indeed boxed in.