Vodka Vodka headed to Sunland Park Stakes

Vodka Vodka, winner of the Unusual Heat Turf Classic for statebreds at Santa Anita in January, will start outside of California for the first time in Sunday’s $250,000 Sunland Park Stakes at 1 1/8 miles in New Mexico.

Vodka Vodka was second by 4 1/2 lengths to British Isles in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap at 1 1/4 miles on dirt in his last start on March 7. Trainer Aggie Ordonez said the Sunland Park Stakes had appeal because of the distance and the surface.

“We would have loved to stay home, but there was not an option,” Ordonez said. “I wanted to keep him on dirt.

“I needed a race this month. It fits the bill as far as timing goes. I like the surface and the distance a lot.

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“It gives me time to come home and recover for whatever we decide to do at the end of May at the Santa Anita.”

Next month, options for Vodka Vodka include the $100,000 Crystal Water Stakes for statebreds at a mile on turf on May 23, or the Grade 2 Hollywood Gold Cup at 1 1/4 miles on dirt on May 25.

“I think he’s good enough on grass to beat Cal-breds,” Ordonez said. “I’m tempted by the Gold Cup. I’m not afraid of trying that. We’ll see who might be joining us in there.”

The $200,000 Gold Cup is the track’s leading race on dirt at the spring meeting, which runs from April 17 to June 14.

Vodka Vodka was vanned the approximately 790 miles from Santa Anita to Sunland Park, arriving on Thursday. He handled the journey without difficultly, Ordonez said.

“He was cool as a cucumber and he enjoyed his trip,” she said.

Ordonez co-owns Vodka Vodka with a partnership that includes breeders Jerry and Connie Baker and McLean Racing Stables.

In the Sunland Park Stakes, Vodka Vodka will be ridden by regular rider Kent Desormeaux, and is part of a field of 10.

The lineup includes Heroic Move, who won the 2025 Sunland Park Stakes by eight lengths. Sunday’s race is the first for Heroic Move since a four-length win in the $100,000 Zia Park Championship Stakes in December.

The Sunland Park Stakes is the first start for Malarchuk since a win in an allowance race at 1 1/8 miles at Saratoga last July for trainer Chad Brown. Malarchuk was sold later that month to former NHL player Erik Johnson and prominent California owners and breeders Paul and Zillah Reddam for $525,000 at the Fasig-Tipton July digital sale.

Malarchuk has been based at Santa Anita with trainer Michael McCarthy in recent months.

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