3/23 (SUN): Sunland Derby (G3), Oaks, Henson, Thomas Mem.
 

5th (2:40) New Mexico Breeder's Derby

1 1/16 Miles | Open | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $85,000

1 Mancation Rosendo I J 122 Blk-On L
2 Mays Or Mantle Contreras L 122 L
3 Pancho Who Madeira C D 122 L
4 Rising Giant Jaime R 122 L
5 Clay Court Shepherd D R 122 L
6 D E Lover Martinez A J 122 L
7 Desert Mystery Juarez A J Jr 122 L
8 Delayed by Who Gomez E P 122 L



6th (3:08) Bill Thomas Memorial S.

6 1/2 Furlongs | Open | 3 Year Olds And Up Stakes | Purse: $75,000

1 Patriot's Voyage Garcia M 118 L
2 Spanish Jazz Eikleberry R 118 L
3 Wine Police Contreras L 120 L
4 Isn't He Clever Gomez E P 120 L
5 Warren's Knockout Juarez A J Jr 120 L
6 L. A. Weekend Franco G 120 L



7th (3:36) Harry Henson H.

1 Mile | Fillies and Mares | 3 Year Olds And Up Stakes | Purse: $75,000

1 With a Miracle Rosendo I J 118 L
2 Wine Thief Medellin A 119 L
3 African Rose Juarez A J Jr 120 L
4 Hard to Resist Contreras L 118 L
5 Ricspretentiousgal Franco G 119 L
6 Paloma Mesa Beitia J 116 L
7 Warrens Venedalucy Eikleberry R 118 L



8th (4:05) Sunland Park Oaks

1 1/16 Miles | Fillies | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $200,000

1 Lucky for You Castellano J J 121 L
2 Let Her Dance Rosendo I J 121 L
3 D'ya Knowwhatimean Espinoza V 121 L
4 George's Peach Eikleberry R 121 L
5 Awesome Baby Smith M E 121 L
6 Empress of Midway Velazquez J R 121 L



9th (4:35) New Mexico Breeders' Oaks

1 1/16 Miles | Fillies | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $85,000

1 Birdie Brew Medellin A 121 L
2 D E Come On Rosendo I J 121 L
3 Princess Chime Gomez E P 121 L
4 My Bikini Fell Off Garcia M 121 L
5 Rollsetroll Juarez A J Jr 121 L
6 Renewed Vows Eikleberry R 121 L
7 B B Looker Fuentes M T Jr 121
8 Zasha Velazquez J R 121 L
9 Happy N Harmony Madeira C D 121 Blk-On L



10th (5:07) La Coneja S.

5 1/2 Furlongs | Fillies and Mares | 4 Year Olds And Up Stakes | Purse: $85,000

1 Lakehouse Fun Contreras L 119 L
2 Soaring Dea Eikleberry R 119 L
3 Park Lane Lass Shepherd D R 119 L
4 Gossip Dome Juarez A J Jr 119 L
5 Funnyoushouldask Medellin A 119 L
6 Tricky R. Summers N N 119 L
7 Way to Go Gerda Gomez E P 119 L
8 Piratz Stash Madeira C D 119 L



11th (5:40) Sunland Derby (G3)

1 1/8 Miles | Open | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $800,000

1 Bourbonize Vazquez R A 122 L
2 Garen Espinoza V 122 L
3 Commissioner Velazquez J R 122 Blk-On L
4 Global Strike Castellano J J 122 L
5 Tanzanite Cat Arroyo N Jr 122 L
6 Lawly's Goal Rosendo I J 122 L
7 Midnight Hawk Smith M E 122 L
8 Rebranded Eikleberry R 122 Blk-On L
9 Chitu Garcia M 122 L

SUNLAND BRIS PP'S: http://www.brisnet.com/brisnet_promo...nlandDerby.pdf

The Sunland Derby looked ugly. Baffert wins again with his C Grade horses.

C grade? Whos the A then? Bayern??
Chitu is pretty solid, and will likely be better going short.
Midnight Hawk is OK as well. He just needs a better trip then 4 or 5 wide every single time he runs.
I think they are both pretty solid horses who will be more effective going shorter.

What was so bad about his trip? He got outsprinted by Chitu for early position who was on his outside, forced the issue with Chitu to run, had dead aim on Chitu at the top of the stretch and was flat out run by Chitu to the wire.

Baffert usually sends his C-Grade horses to Sunland Park. Governer Charlie and Wanna Runner were Bafferts other Sunland Derby Winners and they were hardly any world beaters. As you said, Chitu will most likely be better going short and not really Bafferts top derby prospect.

He should have been outsprinted, since when is he a one way speed horse? When is pressing wide a good trip? IMO its the worst trip in racing, the wide no cover trip. All the drifting in the stretch, neither of them are 10f horses.
Listen, I dont like either horse for the Derby. IMO both of them are going to be better 7f-8f horses. I think both of them are pushing it going 9f. I would like to see both of them pointed towards the Woody Stephens and Kings Bishop, but Im sure they are both going to go to the Derby first. They will both be pace casualties. Almost every horse left on the Derby trail is a speed horse. California Chrome, Social Inclusion, the 2 horses who ran 1-2 in the Fountain of Youth, the Rat from NY and even Uncle Sigh. They are all speed horses. Midnight Hawk has some quality. He is losing to California Chrome and Candy Boy. If the Derby was tomorrow those 2 would be 2 of the favorites. I thought Chitu was best when Candy Boy beat him, for whatever thats worth.

I guess if we are talking strictly Derby they are C types. I think they are both going to be very good, but at 7f-8f. Of course they can win these 9f softer preps, but I think they will both be more effective going 7f-8f.

So, how far do you think Chitu and MH will be best at?

7f-8f. Anyone can win a 9f Derby prep on a speed favoring track. It happens every year. If there was a big dirt mile race in the next month and Chitu cutback for it off of last nights race I would take him over any other 3yr in this class.

800k and no one wants it?
Baffert owns this track at stakes time but no one is game to challenge him
Awesome Gem had it easily too
Smith another smart ride