Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino
Saturday, March 1, 2025
Harken finishes strongly to capture 61st running of the Grade 3 $158,060 West Texas Derby
Alepony LLC’s Harken put in a tenacious late rally under Sergio Becerra, Jr. to score as the post time 8-5 favorite in the 61st edition of the $158,060 West Texas Derby Grade III on Saturday at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino.
Trained by Jesus Soto, the New Mexico-bred son of Eye Am King broke well from the starting gate, was joined on the front end to his inside by railsitter Karmalites as well as Daou midway down the stretch. Becerra got busy aboard Harken in the final yards and pushed him to the finish line, winning by a half-length in a final time of 19.45 seconds for 400 yards. The winner earned a $74,288 paycheck for the winning owners Alepony, LLC led by Nancy Islas.
Harken earned his way into the starting gate for the West Texas Derby when he won his trial heat here by a length on Feb. 8.
Harken, a six-time winner from 10 career starts, picked up his second career stakes win. Last summer, as a 2-year-old, he won the Grade 2 Mountain Top Futurity at Ruidoso Downs. He also finished second in the Grade 1 Zia Futurity last summer at Albuquerque Downs. Saturday’s win in the West Texas Derby pads his career bankroll to more than $340,000.
Sent off as the 8-to-5 post time favorite, Harken returned $5.20 to his winning backers.
Daou ran well and held on for second under jockey Christian Cardenas. The $2 exacta with the top pair returned $15.40. Karmalites was third while Eye Believe In Blood rounded out the top four finishers. Daou is a half-brother to Harken. The top two finishers are both out of the blue-chip New Mexico-bred mare Donelli.
Live racing at Sunland Park resumes Sunday with a 12:25 first post time. Sunday’s featured race is the 14th running of the $90,000 Sunburst Stakes which will be run at a distance of 350 yards. The restricted Grade 3 event for New Mexico-bred 3-year-old fillies will go as the eighth race on the nine-race card. Proven stakes winner Bv Brigette Cartel is the mild 7-2 morning line favorite with Sergio Becerra, Jr. riding. The $1,000 Sunday Sunland Pick 6 will be live on-track promotion.
