Baffert Vs. Locals In The Sunland Park Derby
Updated: March 24, 2023 at 5:21 pm
Even with the expected scratch of Tim Yakteen's Bob Baffert transfer Fort Bragg (Tapit), the GIII Sunland Park Derby has plenty of new connections trying their hand at the available 50- 20-15-10-5 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Baffert himself brings in the non-Derby eligible Hard to Figure (Hard Spun), second to Newgate (Into Mischief) in the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. at Santa Anita Feb. 4.
The local contingent is led by Henry Q (Blame)–winner of the sole local prep in the Mine That Bird Derby Feb. 28–and the top three finishers of Sunland's Riley Allison Derby in One In Vermillion (Army Mule), Steve Asmussen's How Did He Do That (Good Magic), and Wild On Ice (Tapizar). Neither Henry Q, How Did He Do That, or Wild On Ice are Triple-Crown nominated.