Sunland Park: It's My Party turns back for closing-day stakes

Sunland Park Derby alum It’s My Party will be making a significant turnback in distance Tuesday when he goes from 1 1/8 miles to six furlongs for the $50,000 KHEY Sprint. The race for 3-year-olds closes out the Sunland meet, along with the $50,000 Getaway at 870 yards for Quarter Horses.

It’s My Party has run well in a number of stakes during the meet, his latest effort a fourth-place finish in the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Park Derby on March 27. He closed from near the back of the pack to finish four lengths behind winner Twice the Appeal, who is being pointed to the Kentucky Derby.

As for It’s My Party, the cutback to six furlongs should suit him as he won his maiden at the distance in a $50,000 claiming race at Churchill Downs in November. He made his stakes debut two starts later, and was second in the $107,000 Riley Allison Futurity at 6 1/2 furlongs at Sunland Park.

Chris Hartman, the current leading trainer at Sunland, has given the mount to Martin Bourdieu. It’s My Party should start as a strong favorite as he faced steeper last out in the Sunland Derby. He also owns the field’s best career Beyer Speed Figure, the 82 he earned against Twice the Appeal.

Alejandro Medellin, who leads the rider standings at Sunland, will be aboard Trustee Tom. The horse clipped heels and lost his rider in his last start March 8, but before that was a close second in an entry-level allowance at six furlongs at Sunland on Jan. 30. The horse shows a sharp series of works, among them a bullet half-mile in 47.60 seconds March 19.

Trustee Tom is trained by Henry Dominguez, who ranked second in the Sunland standings through Friday.

Others making up the six-horse field include Shigeo, who will be seeking his third straight win Tuesday. He won a $12,500 conditioned claimer wire to wire in February at Sunland, then came back and took a first-level allowance from off the pace in March. Shigeo will break from the rail and has a chance to steal away under jockey Miguel Hernandez.

Shigeo is trained by Weston Martin.