WinStar Derby at Sunland Park on March 16

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A pair of Steve Asmussen trainees, Poni Colada and Ablaze With Spirit will be racing in the $600,000 WinStar Derby at Sunland Park on Sunday, March 16.

Horse trainer Steve Asmussen also conditions Pyro, one of the leading 2008 Kentucky Derby contenders, and Horse of the Year Curlin who is training in Dubai for the March 29 Dubai World Cup at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse.

The 1 1/8 mile Winstar Derby as Sunland Park’s dirt track is one of the 2008 Kentucky Derby prep races. Even though the Winstar Derby is ungraded and therefore not considered a major Kentucky Derby prep race, the participants are looking to take home the $360,000 top prize.

All carrying 122 pounds, the field of Sunland Park’s Winstar Derby on March 16 with jockeys line up as follows:

Poni Colada ridden by jockey Alfredo Juarez, Jr.

Winsome Charm ridden by jockey Tyler Baze

Ablaze With Spirit ridden by jockey Garrett Gomez

No Jepordy ridden by jockey Corey Nakatani

Banker’s Way ridden by jockey Jorge Martin Bourdieu

Capetown Royal ridden by jockey Joe Martinez

Cape Time ridden by jockey Ken Tohill

Deputyville ridden by jockey Glen Murphy

Screen to Screen ridden by jockey Aaron Gryder

Liberty Bull ridden by jockey Eusebio Razo, Jr.

Poni Colada is coming off an 8-length victory in the Borderland Derby at Sunland Park last February 16. Prior to that, Poni Colada finished a disappointing 6th in the Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park. Jockey Alfredo Juarez will be riding Poni Colada, who has won 3 of 7 starts, this Sunday.

In his most recent start, Heiligbrodt Racing’s Ablaze With Spirit won Jim’s Orbit Stakes by half a length last February 16 on a sloppy track at Sam Houston. It was the stakes debut for the son of American Spirit, who also ran for the first time for horse trainer Steve Asmussen. The Texas-bred Ablaze With Spirit was previously trained by William White, and was 1-2-1 from 4 starts for him. Garrett Gomez will make the trip to New Mexico to ride Ablaze With Spirit for the first time.

Coming off a 3rd place finish behind Denis of Cork in the February 18 Southwest Stakes (gr. III) at Oaklawn Park, Kentucky Derby hopeful Liberty Bull, may be a threat for the two Steve Asmussen entries. Regular rider Eusebio Razo, Jr. will be aboard Liberty Bull breaking from post position 10.

The WinStar Derby is scheduled as the 11th race in Sunland Park’s March 16 horse racing program. Estimated post time is 5:28 pm MST.

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