Sunland Derby: Firing Line will be hard to deny

He’s the best horse, with the best form, drew the best post, and the horse perceived as his closest rival is scratched. After a pair of tough-luck losses, it appears as though Firing Line has landed an ideal spot to get his first stakes win – and secure a berth in the Kentucky Derby on May 2 – when he starts as the heavy favorite Sunday in the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby at Sunland Park.

Firing Line was a head shy of beating the highly regarded Dortmund in both the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity and the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes, his two attempts at a stakes since defeating maidens second time out. Rather than remaining at Santa Anita and facing Dortmund again in the San Felipe Stakes earlier this month, Firing Line on Friday took a plane ride to the west Texas town of El Paso, which is just across the border from New Mexico, where Sunland Park is located.

Those races against Dortmund rightly make Firing Line among the top 3-year-olds in the nation. He is the only horse in the field who is a member of Daily Racing Form’s Derby Watch top 20. Firing Line drew the rail of eight entered in the race. The field was reduced to seven Thursday when trainer Bob Baffert announced that Lord Nelson, who drew post 2, was out.

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This will be the first time Firing Line attempts 1 1/8 miles after going 1 1/16 miles in his two prior starts. It also will be his first race outside of Southern California. Simon Callaghan trains Firing Line for Arnold Zetcher.

The Sunland Derby offers 85 qualifying points overall toward the Kentucky Derby, including 50 to the winner, essentially making the race a “Win and You’re In.”

:: ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays

The Sunland Derby is race 11 on a 12-race card that begins at 12:55 p.m. Mountain. There are seven stakes in total, six worth $100,000 or more, including the $200,000 Sunland Park Oaks, in which the Baffert-trained Callback will be a heavy favorite. The Sunland Park Oaks offers the same point value toward the May 1 Kentucky Oaks as the Sunland Derby does for the Kentucky Derby.

Sunland Park Derby, race 11

KEY CONTENDERS

Firing Line (Last 3 Beyers: 104-91-87)

◗ He could not have been more unfortunate in his last start, the Lewis, in which he earned a gaudy Beyer Speed Figure but still lost to Dortmund while finishing more than 21 lengths in front of everyone else.

“Dortmund’s tough, like Rocky,” said Paul Eddery, the former jockey who is the exercise rider for Firing Line. “You think he’s beat, and he comes back.”

◗ Gary Stevens rode Firing Line for the first time in the Lewis and is back aboard. Stevens believed Firing Line thought his job was done when he hit the front last time, so it will be interesting to see what tactics Stevens employs early in this race. He has the rail but might want to let another horse set off for the lead, get outside, and have a target for Firing Line.

Tiznow R J (Last 3 Beyers: 73-85-86)

◗ After a decent third in the Lecomte, he disappointed when finishing seventh in the Risen Star last time out. Rather than running again at Fair Grounds next week in the Louisiana Derby, he was sent to Sunland.

Why Two (Last 3 Beyers: 83-86-77)

◗ Didn’t beat much when annexing the Turf Paradise Derby but has won two straight and appears to have some upside.

Where’s the Moon (Last 3 Beyers: 79-63-59)

◗ The best of the local runners, he has won his last two starts, including the major prep, the Mine That Bird Derby on Feb. 21.