Straight Up G will get a return trip to New Mexico for Sunland Derby
Straight Up G has returned to Santa Anita following his win in last Sunday’s $100,000 Mine That Bird Derby at Sunland Park, but he could be returning to New Mexico.
Trainer Richard Baltas said Thursday that the Grade 3, $500,000 Sunland Derby is a consideration for the horse. The Kentucky Derby points race will be run over 1 1/8 miles March 27.
Straight Up G, who is a stakes winner against California-breds, was racing outside California for the first time for the Mine That Bird Derby. The start also marked his first against open company. Straight Up G set a strong pace, and for covering the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.96 earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 79.
“He came back very good,” Baltas said. “And he ran great – had to travel, first time on that track. He kind of jumped the tracks at the end, got off stride a little bit, but was far enough in front and still won.”
Straight Up G prevailed by three-quarters of a length for breeder and owner Jim Rome.
“We might go back over there for the Sunland Derby,” Baltas said. “That’s one of our options. Another option is to stay here. We’re nominated to most everything. We’ll just have to see.”
Bye Bye Bobby is being pointed for the Sunland Derby off his runner-up finish in the Mine That Bird Derby, according to trainer Todd Fincher.
Bye Bye Bobby won his career debut in the $50,000 Zia Park Juvenile in November and has now finished second in both of the local preps for the Sunland Derby. The first was the Riley Allison Derby on Jan. 30.
Bye Bye Bobby chased the pace in the Mine That Bird.
“He kind of ran off early in the race, which hurt him,” Fincher said. “He showed a lot of fight and heart and stamina.
“Distance is in his favor. The farther, the better.”
Bye Bye Bobby is a son of Quality Road and he brought $870,000 as a yearling at Keeneland September in 2020. Bye Bye Bobby is a half-brother to Grade 3 winner Poker Player. He races for B4 Farms.
The Sunland Derby rewards its first four finishers Kentucky Derby points on a scale of 50-20-10-5.