Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino
Sunday, January 18, 2026
Daneyko narrowly prevails in thrilling edition of $100,000 Riley Allison Derby
Daneyko scored his first career stakes win and may have given a preview of more to come when proving narrowly best in a thrilling 62nd edition of the $100,000 Riley Allison Derby, the featured race of a strong stakes-laden program at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino.
Ridden by Alfredo Juarez, Jr. for trainer Edward J. Kereluk, Daneyko was well off the early pace in the one-mile affair. The battle on the front end was a duel between Truly Unbelievable and Way Beyond, who contested a swift opening half mile in a time of 46.65 seconds. Daneyko made up ground around the far turn and was dueling for the lead with Way Beyond and jockey Keith Asmussen as the field reached the top of the lane.
Daneyko and Way Beyond battled through much of the stretch drive, with Daneyko getting his nose down on the wire just in front of Way Beyond. The winner raced a mile in 1 minute, 37.53 seconds while winning for the second time in five career starts.
The Kentucky-bred son of Vekoma was second last time out on Dec. 12 at Turf Paradise in the Lost In The Fog Juvenile. He broke his maiden on the turf course in his third career start. Sunday’s win in the Ft Bliss pads his career earnings to more than $76,000.
Owned and bred by Roys Mansur, Daneyko may well come back as a contender in the $500,000 Sunland Derby, which will be run on Sunday, Feb, 15. The Riley Allison Derby has been a traditional prep for the Sunland Derby, which will be run at a distance of 1 1/16 miles and serves as a steppingstone for the Kentucky Derby to be run at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 2.
Sent off at odds of 4.80-to-1, Daneyko paid back $11.60 to his winning backers. The $2 exacta with Way Beyond returned $43.40. Forty Seven checked in a well-beaten third with Mischief Maker settled for fourth.
Walter The Mason was scratched from the Riley Allison Derby earlier in the day, reducing the starters to a field of eight runners.
Coffee Connection rallies late to capture $65,000 Borderplex Stakes
Coffee Connection picked up her second win from as many starts when she rallied for an impressive win under jockey Olaf Hernandez in the 28th running of the $65,000 Borderplex Stakes.
Trained by Todd Fincher for owners Brad King, Jim Cone, R. Lee Lewis, and G. Randy Andrews, Coffee Connection battled on the front end from the start of the 6 1-2 furlong event. She dueled for the early lead with Ready To Dial, then battled briefly with In The Aggregate, who sped to a clear lead at the top of the stretch.
Hernandez roused Coffee Connection to the lead in deep stretch then held off a belated rally from runner-up Not A Lady and jockey Keith Asmussen, winning by a half-length while stopping the clock in a time of 1 minute, 16.17 seconds.
The 3-year-old Kentucky-bred filly by Nyquist is now 2-for-2, having broken her maiden in her career debut on Nov. 3 at Zia Park. Bred by Sandra Sexton & Silver Fern Farm, Coffee Connection has now earned more than $67,000.
Coffee Connection, sent off as the 2-to-1 second choice, returned $6 to her winning backers. The $2 exacta with Not A Lady paid back $28.40. In The Aggregate settled for third while Run Your Mouth rounded out the top four finishers.
Augusta Melody proves best in $75,000 Ft Bliss Stakes
Augusta Melody picked up the first stakes win of his well-traveled career Sunday, battling to a half-length score in the 21st running of the $75,000 Ft Bliss Stakes under jockey Orlando Mojica.
Augusta Melody was prominent from the start of the 6 furlong event, battling for the lead with Neiman and jockey Luis Valenzuela, as well as Ruggs and rider Alfredo Sigala through a quick half mile timed in 44.16 seconds. As the field moved to the top of the lane, Mojica urged Augusta Melody to the lead and was ridden determinedly to the finish line, getting there in a fast time of 1 minute, 8.76 seconds.
The 9-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Speightstown, trained by Robertino Diodoro and owned by Rick Wiest, Lana Wiest, Clayton Wiest, and Todd Fitch, Augusta Melody was most recently off the board in an allowance race at Remington Park. He snapped a four-race losing streak dating back to his last victory on July 16 at Colonial Downs. He also earned victories last year at Pimlico and Keeneland. Sunday’s victory in the Ft Bliss gives him eight wins from 30 career starts and earnings of more than $396,000.
Sent off at odds of 4.70-to-1, Augusta Melody paid $11.40 to win, while the $2 exacta with Neiman returned $159.40. Ryvit, sent off as the post time favorite, finished third with Mission Beach rounding out the top four finishers.
Aye Candy runs down her rivals in $65,000 Bold Ego Stakes
Aye Candy rallied from far back to prove much the best in Sunday’s 33rd running of the $65,000 Bold Ego Stakes, giving both rider Alfredo Juarez, Jr. and trainer Todd Fincher their second stakes winners of the afternoon.
Juarez had Aye Candy well off the early lead, set by Brashanknowit, who had a clear advantage after an opening quarter mile in 21.74 seconds. As the field raced through the far turn, Aye Candy began to make up ground but was still far back of new leader Alexandra Elaine and jockey Alejandro Medellin.
In the stretch, Aye Candy rallied down the center of the course, making up more than four lengths and getting the best of Alexandra Elaine in the final 100 yards, proving best when winning by three-quarters of a length, hitting the finish line in a time of 1 minute, 2.78 seconds for 5 1-2 furlongs.
Trained by Todd Fincher for owners Peacock Family Racing Stable, LLC, Aye Candy is a 5-year-old mare by Candy Ride. Bred in Kentucky by Joe R. Peacock, Jr., Aye Candy is out of the Desert God mare Rose’s Desert, who was a multiple stakes winner and earner of more than $626,000 on the racetrack. In addition, Rose’s Desert also produced several graded stakes winners including 2024 Saudi Cup winner Senor Buscador, who recently retired with earnings of nearly $13 million.
Aye Candy earned her third career win from seven starts and has now earned nearly $107,000.
Sent off at odds of 6.60-to-1, Aye Candy paid $15.20 to her winning backers. The $2 exacta with Alexandra Elaine returned $103.60. Lookinforbargains finished third while Pepper Mill settled for fourth.
A pair of state-bred thoroughbred stakes races headline the Monday program at Sunland Park. Speed Merchant seeks his third stakes win in the $80,000 Corralito Steak House Stakes while Caprock Cutie is the morning line favorite in $80,000 La Senora Stakes. First post time on Monday is set for 12:25 p.m.
