Several stakes get purse increases

On Thursday, Sunland Park in New Mexico announced the dates for its major stakes, including the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby, which will be run March 20. The 1 1/8-mile race, which Firing Line won this year, will again share a card with the $200,000 Sunland Park Oaks.

Sunland opens a 72-date mixed meet for Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses on Dec. 18. The season runs through April 19.

The Sunland Derby is the richest race of the meet and will anchor a card of seven stakes worth a total of $1.4 million. The program includes the $100,000 Bill Thomas Memorial and the $100,000 Harry Henson Handicap. The same card last season drew a record crowd of 19,801.

Sunland also announced it has boosted the value of the Sunland Park Handicap from $75,000 to $150,000. The 1 1/8-mile race will be run April 17. The purses for the El Diario and Curribot handicaps and the Island Fashion Stakes also have been increased to $75,000 each.

Sunland’s main event for Quarter Horses, the Grade 1, $350,000 Championship, will lead a card of three stakes Dec. 27. Other cards with multiple stakes include the Jan. 30 card, featuring the $100,000 Riley Allison Derby at a mile and the $65,000 El Paso Times Handicap, and the Feb. 20 card, featuring the $100,000 Mine That Bird Derby and the Island Fashion.

Sunland plans to run all-Thoroughbred cards Tuesdays.