Where’s the Moon versus seven in Sunland Derby
Sunland Park, NM (SportsNetwork.com) – Where’s the Moon, winner of Sunland Park’s Mine That Bird Derby, will take on seven other 3-year-olds Sunday in the $800,000 Sunland Derby.
The 1 1/8-mile stakes offers 50 points to the winning 3-year-old toward a spot in the 20-horse starting field for this year’s Kentucky Derby on May 2.
Where’s the Moon, trained by Henry Dominguez, will start from post 3 with Luis Contreras coming in to ride. The chestnut gelding, owned by J. Kirk and Judy Robison, has won his last two starts, all at Sunland, highlighted by his 13-1 upset victory four weeks ago in the Mine That Bird Derby.
Where’s the Moon began his career last October at Santa Anita with a sixth- place finish. He duplicated that result the following month at Del Mar and was eighth over Del Mar’s turf course on Nov. 29. On Jan. 16 the gelding got third at Sunland and won for the first time on Feb. 13 by 6 3/4 lengths.
The chestnut 3-year-old has banked $75,100 in six starts.
Firing Line, ninth in the current 3-year-old poll, has drawn the inside post with Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens again riding. Trained by Simon Callaghan, the colt is owned by Arnold Zetcher.
In four career starts, Firing Line has been second three times, most recently in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita behind Dortmund on Feb. 7. The pair finished in the same order in December’s Los Alamitos Futurity. Firing Line has earned $174,800 from four starts with one win.
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert sends out San Vicente Stakes winner Lord Nelson in the Sunland Derby. Owned by Peachtree Stable, Lord Nelson gains the riding services of Martin Garcia and will leave from post 2.
Lord Nelson, fourth in the San Felipe Stakes on March 7, has won half of his six career starts for $273,571. Baffert is a three-time Sunland Derby winner, including last year with Chitu.
Starting from post 4 will be Turf Paradise Derby winner Why Two with Victor Espinoza in the saddle. Espinoza, the regular jockey for champion colt and Rebel Stakes winner American Pharoah, had been aboard for Why Two’s first two starts in January.
Why Two, trained by Michael Machowsky for the Kagele Brothers and Ernest Marcho, won the Turf Paradise Derby on Feb. 21 as the 3-10 favorite going wire to wire.
“He got a breather out there,” said jockey Aaron Gryder, “and wasn’t surprised by the closers. He’s still learning how to race.”
Why Two has two wins in three starts for $82,065.
Here is the field for the Sunland Derby from the rail out: Firing Line, Gary Stevens; Lord Nelson, Martin Garcia; Where’s the Moon, Luis Contreras; Why Two, Victor Espinoza; Malibu Mogul, Enrique Gomez; Tiznow R J, Robby Albarado; Pain and Misery, Norberto Arroyo Jr. and Dirt Monster, Ry Eikleberry.
Post time for the Sunland Derby will be approximately 7:40 p.m. ET.
Categorized in: Horses