Tipsheet: Sunland Park Derby 2023

A total of seven sophomores will travel nine furlongs on the dirt in Sunday’s $600,000 Sunland Park Derby (G3). The 2023 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series event will reward the top five finishers with qualifying points towards the Run for the Roses based on a 50-20-15-10-5 basis.

Sunland Park Derby Selections

• #6 Hard to Figure
• #4 Henry Q
• #1 How Did He Do That
• #3 Fort Bragg

Sunland Park Derby Wagers

• $30 win: #6 Hard to Figure
• $1 superfecta: 4, 6 with 4, 6 with 1, 2, 3 with all
• $1 superfecta: 4, 6 with 4, 6 with all with 1, 2, 3

Sunland Park Derby Contenders

#1 HOW DID HE DO THAT (9-2): Steve Asmussen's Good Magic colt rallied down the stretch to be runner-up in a local prep last time out. The talented stakes winner draws well on the rail and lands in a good spot with a plethora of pace signed on for the race. He retains the services of Alfredo Juarez.

#2 LOW EXPECTATIONS (6-1): The Nyquist gelding is two-for-two since moving to the dirt following four turf tries to commence his career for Antonio Garcia. He was a smart allowance winner at Santa Anita in his latest endeavor, and can surely factor on this occasion with another move in the right direction. Mario Gutierrez will be in the silks once again.

#3 FORT BRAGG (4-1): The Grade 2-placed colt came home fifth in the deep San Felipe S. (G2) most recently and will improve while making his second run off the bench. The Tim Yakteen pupil is bred to handle the distance, and also has the gate presence to be in the mix from the break against this field. Juan Hernandez comes in for the voyage.

#4 HENRY Q (3-1): This rapidly improving son of Blame aired in his first try since joining the Todd Fincher shedrow when posting a 14-length tally on the oval last time out. The bay colt has improved his Brisnet Speed figure in each lifetime performance and could be any kind while facing his toughest assignment to date. Edwin Maldonado will be in the stirrups.

#5 ONE IN VERMILLION (6-1): The Esteban Martinez trainee is a three-time stakes winner who aced the local prep for this event in his latest showing. The chestnut son of Army Mule has increased his speed number on every occasion to this stage of his development and could gain a share with continued ascension in this spot. Regular jock Harry Hernandez has the call.

#6 HARD TO FIGURE (2-1): The top pick from the Baffert shedrow just missed when a neck second in the Robert B. Lewis S. (G3) most recently and rates a huge chance with a similar try in this endeavor. The $200,000 Hard Spun colt has trained in swift fashion in advance of his second 2023 assignment, and he gets a nice draw outside of the other pace in the tilt. Flavien Prat coming in to ride is a huge bonus.

#7 WILD ON ICE (20-1): The outsider from the Joel Marr shedrow gets the outer post slot and comes off a pair of well-beaten tries in the stakes ranks. The Tapizar gelding would be a shocker beneath Ken Tohill.