Straight Up G Tops Mine That Bird Derby Field

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Straight Up G Tops Mine That Bird Derby Field
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Straight Up G wins the 2021 King Glorious Stakes at Los Alamitos Race Course

Although the Feb. 27 $100,000 Mine That Bird Derby is worth no points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, the 1 1/16-mile contest for 3-year-olds is the local stepping stone to the March 27 $500,000 Sunland Park Derby, which is worth 50 points to the winner toward a spot in the starting gate on the first Saturday in May.

The Mine That Bird Derby, named for the fabled gelding who upset the 2009 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) at 50-1 after finishing fourth in the Sunland Derby, drew a field of eight sophomores for Sunday's race. A host of invaders will take on local hopes Pepper Spray , Bye Bye Bobby , and Benissimo , the 1-2-3 finishers of Sunland Park's Riley Allison Derby Jan. 30.

Leading the assault on Sunland is Jungle Racing's Straight Up G . The Cal-bred son of Straight Fire   rattled off two victories against state-bred company, including in the King Glorious Stakes Dec. 12 at Los Alamitos Race Course, before falling a neck short of Fast Draw Munnings  after pressing the early pace in the Jan. 15 California Cup Derby at Santa Anita Park. Trained by Richard Baltas, Straight Up G tuned up for the Mine That Bird Derby with a sizzling five-furlong move Feb. 18 at Santa Anita in :59 2/5.

Making his first start outside of California, regular rider Ricardo Gonzalez flies into town to ride the colt.

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen also ships two into town, the grade 1-placed American Xperiment  and Classic Moment .

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Entries: Mine That Bird Derby

Sunland Park, Sunday, February 27, 2022, Race 9

  • STK
  • 1 1/16m
  • Dirt
  • $100,000
  • 3 yo
  • 3:59 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Fowler Blue (CA) Edwin A. Maldonado 121 Luis Mendez 7/1
2 2Bye Bye Bobby (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Roimes Chirinos 121 Todd W. Fincher 6/1
3 3Benissimo (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Enrique Portillo Gomez 121 Dick Cappellucci 10/1
4 4City At Night (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Harry Hernandez 121 Bart G. Hone 8/1
5 5Pepper Spray (KY) Luis A. Valenzuela 121 Edward J. Kereluk 5/1
6 6Straight Up G (CA) Ricardo Gonzalez 121 Richard Baltas 3/1
7 7American Xperiment (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Alfredo J. Juarez, Jr. 121 Steven M. Asmussen 4/1
8 8Classic Moment (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Luis Negron 121 Steven M. Asmussen 9/2