Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino
Monday, January 12, 2026
Post position draw for $500,000 Sunland Derby to be held Sunday, February 8
The field for the 21st running of the $500,000 Sunland Derby will be announced live at a special post-position draw inside the turf club at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino on Sunday, Feb. 8 at 11 a.m.
The draw, which will be emceed by host Tom Dawson, will introduce fans and the media to the competitors which will take part in the most prestigious race of the Sunland Park season, which will take place on Sunday, Feb. 15.
The post-position draw is free to the general public and media and will also include appearances from Sunland Park’s director of racing Dustin Dix, as well as paddock show host Julie Farr and the Sunland Park stewards.
The $500,000 Sunland Derby is expected to attract a star-studded cast of 3-year-olds with aspirations of reaching the starting gate for the 152nd running of the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, which will be held Saturday, May 2 at Churchill Downs.
In order to run in the Kentucky Derby, horses must qualify by earning points in prep races. The winner of the $500,000 Sunland Derby awards the winner 20 points. The top 20 points earners will determine the preference list for the 152nd Kentucky Derby on May 2, 2026. Points are also awarded to the second, third and fourth place finishers.
Last year, Getaway Car narrowly prevailed in a thrilling edition of the Sunland Derby, battling with runner-up Caldera in a stirring stretch drive. Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Getaway Car was the fourth Sunland Derby winner trained by Bob Baffert, who also saddled 2014 winner Chitu, as well as 2013 winner Govenor Charlie and Wanna Runner, who prevailed in 2006. Baffert has trained six Kentucky Derby winners, with American Pharoah (2015) and Justify (2018) winning thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown.
The $500,000 Sunland Derby has had its purse enhanced from last year’s running of $400,000. The Sunland Derby will be the showcase race of an extraordinary program on Sunday, Feb. 15, which will include the 23rd running of the $250,000 Sunland Park Oaks, as well as the $100,000 Harry Henson Stakes, the $100,000 Bill Thomas Memorial Stakes, the $100,000 Peppers Pride Stakes and the $100,000 Red Hedeman Mile. All told, six stakes races will be run on Sunland Derby day offering purse money of more than $1.1 million.
