Sunland resumes racing, but two big stakes in doubt

Sunland Park in New Mexico is scheduled to resume racing after a month’s absence Friday, but the status of its premier races, the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Park Derby and $200,000 Sunland Park Oaks, are pending. Both are “tentatively scheduled to run” March 20, according to a press release issued Tuesday night by Sunland. The track has not raced since Jan. 22 due to an outbreak of equine herpesvirus in which more than 72 horses were confirmed positive in New Mexico, most of them stabled at Sunland.

There have been no new confirmed cases in the state for the past six days, according to a Tuesday night update from the New Mexico Livestock Board. Sunland will put on a nine-race card Friday that starts later than usual, at 1:30 p.m. Mountain. There are a pair of overnight stakes that serve as preps for the Sunland Park Derby and Sunland Park Oaks.

The $75,000 Island Fashion for 3-year-old fillies at a mile drew 11-length allowance winner K P Wildcat and 15-length maiden special weight winner McHottie. The $100,000 Mine That Bird for 3-year-olds at a mile is led by Cowboy Cool and Concord Fast, but the sentimental favorite will be Dad, whose mom, Peppers Pride, is the New Mexico-bred millionaire who went 19 for 19. Dad is making his first start for trainer Joel Mar, who trained Peppers Pride.

Nominations to the Sunland Derby and Sunland Park Oaks are being taken with no supplemental fees, according to the release issued Tuesday. Track officials will monitor the health of the horses on the grounds and communicate any changes, the release stated. Sunland officials have not returned calls from Daily Racing Form dating back to early February.

The Sunland Derby is a 1 1/8-mile race that is scheduled to reward its first four finishers with Kentucky Derby points on a 50-20-10-5 basis. The same points schedule is in place for Sunland Park Oaks starters with designs on the Kentucky Oaks.

No horses will be allowed to ship into or out of Sunland until a quarantine is lifted by the New Mexico Livestock Board. Sunland is scheduled to race into April.