Betting the Sunland Derby on a $20 Budget
Image:
Description:
Firing Line looks to snatch victory in Saturday's Sunland Derby without Dortmund to stand in his way. (Photo by Eclipse Sportswire)
This year’s edition of the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby has attracted the usual mix of local runners as well as shippers from other states. In the 12 runnings of the race, seven of the winners have been Southern California-based runners, including the last two years.
Although a Kentucky Derby winner has emerged from this event, Mine That Bird, who finished fourth in the 2009 Sunland Derby, this race had never attracted a “top-tier Kentucky Derby hopeful” coming into this race until this year. That horse is Firing Line.
Firing Line has suffered two tough back-to-back, photo-finish defeats that could have gone either way against the undefeated Dortmund, who is near the top of many handicappers’ Kentucky Derby lists. Firing Line has shown improvement in each of his starts and looks to have the class edge against this group. Over the years, the Sunland Derby has favored speed-type horses and this Simon Callaghan trainee has shown good tactical speed in his two starts going a route of ground.
To further help Firing Line’s chances, the lone Bob Baffert shipper and former morning-line second choice, Lord Nelson, has been scratched from this race and will await another spot to run in. On paper, Firing Line looks like a standout.
Another California shipper who could make some noise in the exacta and trifecta spots is the improving Why Two, who was most recently seen winning the Turf Paradise Derby when he traveling to Arizona. He went to the lead and won it in front-running fashion and that speed might be beneficial in this spot.
From the local horses, I think you can give Where’s the Moon and Dirt Monster a shot to show up in the trifecta and superfecta. Where’s the Moon began his career in Southern California but has blossomed since making Sunland his home base under the training of Henry Dominguez. He comes into this race off a strong performance in the Mine That Bird Derby, which he won by more than two lengths. Dirt Monster has never finished off the board in seven career starts and was last seen running a good third in the Mine That Bird Derby after pressing a solid pace.
Betting the Sunland Derby on a $20 Budget
$10 exacta: 1 with 4 ($10)
$5 trifecta: 1 with 4 with 3, 8 ($10)
$800,000 Grade 3 Sunland Derby
Sunday, Sunland Park, Race 11 at 5:40 p.m. ET
1 1/8 miles on the dirt
PP
Horse
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
M/L
1
Firing Line
Gary Stevens
Simon Callaghan
Arnold Zetcher LLC
8-5
2
Lord Nelson
Martin Garcia
Bob Baffert
Peachtree Stable
3-1
3
Where's the Moon
Luis Contreras
Henry Dominguez
J. Kirk and Judy Robison
6-1
4
Why Two
Victor Espinoza
Mike Machowsky
Kagele Brothers, Inc. , Ernest Marchosky , Ken Shaw and Lo Hi Stable
8-1
5
Malibu Mogul
Enrique Gomez
Henry Dominguez
J. Kirk and Judy Robison
15-1
6
Tiznow R J
Robby Albarado
Steve Asmussen
Mike McCarty
5-1
7
Pain and Misery
Norberto Arroyo, Jr.
Henry Dominguez
Black Gold Racing
6-1
8
Dirt Monster
Ry Eikleberry
Justin Evans
Tony A. Pennington
12-1