A field of 12 line up in Sunday’s $800,000 Sunland Derby (Photo courtesy of Sunland Park)
A dozen line up in Sunday’s $800,000 Sunland Derby (G3) at Sunland Park with Derby points on the line and I am looking for an All Out Blitz.
All Out Blitz is the tepid 4-1 morning line favorite after a third-place finish in the San Vicente (G2) in his last outing at seven furlongs. The Simon Callaghan trainee drew the one post with Martin Garcia riding the son of Concord Point for the first time since piloting him to a fifth-place finish in his debut last October.
The Sunland Derby offers up 50-20-10-5 points toward entry into the Run for the Roses as part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby points series.
The winner’s share of points is enough to earn a spot in the Derby field.
Among the horses that have exited the Sunland Derby and gone to bigger and better things include Mine That Bird, who was the upset winner of the 2009 Kentucky Derby and then ran second in the Preakness Stakes and third in the Belmont Stakes.
Last year’s Sunland Derby winner was Hence for the Steve Asmussen barn. The colt ran 11th in the Kentucky Derby.
Ruler On Ice exited the 2011 Sunland Derby and went on to win the Belmont Stakes.
Let’s head out to Sunland Park for Sunday’s featured race of the day:
Sunland Park Race 11 The Sunland Derby G3 (5:15 MT)
#1 All Out Blitz 4-1
#4 Hollywood Star 6-1
#5 Peace 12-1
#7 Prince Lucky 6-1
Analysis: All Out Blitz stretches back out to a route after a third last out in the San Vicente (G2) at seven furlongs. His best effort came in the one-mile Sham (G3) two back in his first start against winners. The colt set the early fractions and could not go with McKinzie late in a runner up finish. The winner came back to cross the wire first in the San Felipe (G2) in his next start only to get DQ’d for alleged interference in the stretch.
The third-place finisher My Boy Jack came back to win the Southwest (G3) in his next outing and went in yesterday’s Louisiana Derby (G2). He has enough pedigree to go nine furlongs. by Concord Point out of a Smart Strike mare, her first foal to race. The Callaghan barn is 17% winners (with a +ROI) moving runners from sprint to route.
Hollywood Star raced at the back of the pack and made up some ground late while wide to finish fourth in the Sam F. Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs in his three-year-old debut. He ran second in the Saratoga Special (G2) and Iroquois (G3) in his first go long, then was sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1). He should move forward in his second start off a three month break for Romans who has a barn of talented three-year-olds.
This guy was a $550,000 Keeneland purchase, by Malibu Moon out of the stakes winner Hollywood Story ($1.1 million) who has dropped three other winners, top earner stakes placed Horrayforhollywood ($212,519).
Peace was a smart looking maiden winner three back and that earned him a start in the Lewis (G3) where he did not show enough punch in the stretch in a fifth-place finish. He came back in the San Felipe (G2) at 44-1 and finished evenly for fourth, beaten just a half-length for third. Mandella gives him another shot to earn a trip to Louisville and I am not ready to give up on this guy yet. He should be a generous price in this spot. He is out of the stakes winner Queen’s Triomphe ($162,193).
Wagering
WIN: #1 to win at 7-2 or better.
EX: 1,4 / 1,4,5,7
TRI: 1,4 / 1,4,5,7 / 1,4,5,7,8
Catch Derby Fever with Michael Dempsey’s Road to the Kentucky Derby Package! Subscribers receive ALL of Michael’s Saturday’s Reports now until the first Saturday of May!
Included in the package is coverage of all of the major Derby preps, his Best Plays Report and his full card reports each Saturday! In addition, this package includes his Kentucky Oaks Day and Kentucky Derby Day Reports! Only $69.95!
