Sunland Park hopes to build on positive image with 3-y-o focus
When Sunland Park’s meet opens Tuesday, officials are hoping to build on the positive image the track has enjoyed the last couple of years by taking steps to lure quality 3-year-olds to the New Mexico track. Winners of the Sunland Derby have included Mine That Bird, who went on to win the 2009 Kentucky Derby, and Ruler On Ice, who won this year’s Belmont Stakes.
The track has again placed the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Park Derby and the $200,000 Sunland Park Oaks on the same card in late March. In addition, the purse of the Borderland Derby has been boosted from $100,000 to $150,000.
“That’s the prep for the Sunland Derby,” said Harold Payne, general manager of Sunland. “We wanted to try and attract more horses to come run in the prep.”
Projected purses at Sunland will average $250,000 a day – the same as last season.
