Wide-open field for Sunland Derby

The Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby in New Mexico on Sunday looks like one of the best betting races on the road to the Kentucky Derby.

All Out Blitz is the 4-1 morning-line favorite in the 12-horse field, which includes fellow Southern California invaders Choo Choo, Dark Vader and Peace. Florida is represented by Hollywood Star, Seven Trumpets, and Pennsylvania Nursery winner Prince Lucky. Midwest runners include New York Central and Dream Baby Dream for trainer Steve Asmussen, who won last year’s Sunland Derby with Hence and who took down this year’s local prep, the Mine That Bird Derby, with the UAE Derby-bound Reride.

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“All in all, it’s very [difficult] to separate this field,” said Todd Fincher, trainer of local favorite Runaway Ghost. “There isn’t a standout.”

The Sunland Derby, at 1 1/8 miles, anchors a card of seven stakes worth $1.5 million. The first four finishers Sunday earn Kentucky Derby eligibility points on a scale of 50-20-10-5.

Sunland Derby (Race 11)

KEY CONTENDERS

All Out Blitz, by Concord Point
Last 3 Beyers: 69-91-87

◗ The running line that jumps off the page is his second-place finish to McKinzie in the Grade 3 Sham on Jan. 6 at Santa Anita. My Boy Jack, the third-place finisher, came back in his next start to win the Southwest at Oaklawn. All Out Blitz set the pace in the Sham and finished 3 1/2 lengths behind the winner.

“We thought that was a really good run,” trainer Simon Callaghan said. “I think McKinzie, who beat him that day, is certainly one of the choices for the Derby. So, we’re hoping he can repeat that race.”

◗ All Out Blitz will be making his first start beyond a mile.

“We thought this would be the logical place to stretch him out,” said Callaghan, who won the 2015 Sunland Derby with Firing Line. “Certainly, we were looking at stretching him out farther. This track is the right place to do it.”

◗ All Out Blitz worked a bullet five-eighths in 58.20 seconds since his last start, a third-place finish in the Grade 2 San Vicente on Feb. 10 at Santa Anita.

◗ Martin Garcia has the mount from the rail for breeder-owner Kaleem Shah.

New York Central, by Tapit
Last 3 Beyers: 83-77-81

◗ He’s won two of four starts and enters the Sunland Derby off a sharp allowance win Feb. 19 at Oaklawn. He set the pace over a muddy track in the 1 1/16-mile race and fought along the rail for a neck victory.

“He was very gritty,” Asmussen said. “I liked how he hung in there. We used a little of him away from the gates to establish some position, and he came back on late. He’s a very impressive horse to train – a tremendous amount of talent.”

◗ Ricardo Santana Jr. has the mount from post 3.

Runaway Ghost, by Ghostzapper
Last 3 Beyers: 87-84-37

◗ He won at two turns for the first time in the Riley Allison Derby on Jan. 28 at Sunland, and last out was second Reride in the Mine That Bird Derby on Feb. 25.

“[Reride] ran a great race,” Fincher said. “We got [tired] the last eighth of a mile due to being on the front end and taking all the heat early. He had a horse on top of him the whole way.”

◗ Since the start, Runaway Ghost has worked six furlongs in 1:15.

“He’s starting to learn how to relax a little bit,” Fincher said. “His last workout, he worked slow. He picked it up really strong on the end, and the gallop-out was huge. He’s acting more like a route horse than a sprinter. Hopefully, that transfers to the race.”

◗ Tracy Hebert has the mount from post 11.

Peace, by Violence
Last 3 Beyers: 90-73-76

◗ He closed from last for fourth in the 1 1/16-mile San Felipe at Santa Anita on March 10.

“We just let him run his own race,” trainer Richard Mandella said. “He finished very strong. With the mile and an eighth of the Sunland Derby, this might help him.”

Dark Vader, by Tale of Ekati
Last 3 Beyers: 80-80-56

◗ He enters off a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis on Feb. 3 at Santa Anita. He was prominent throughout under Stewart Elliott, who is aboard again Sunday.

“He came out of that race really good and trained even better,” trainer Peter Eurton said. “Instead of staying here for an [allowance], we thought we’d go for $800,000 and have a little fun.

“I think he’ll like the racetrack. It’s a little tighter than what we’re used to here.”