Study Guide: 2026 Sunland Park Derby

Feb 10, 2026 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

Express Kid outran his 34-1 odds in the Springboard Mile (Photo by Dustin Orona Photography/Remington Park)

Sunday’s $500,000 Sunland Park Derby at Sunland Park is a 1 1/16-mile Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier worth 20-10-6-4-2 points to the top five finishers.

The race has produced a dozen Kentucky Derby (G1) starters through the years, including 2009 winner Mine That Bird and 2015 runner-up Firing Line.

Let’s examine the eight horses entered in the 2026 Sunland Park Derby:

Express Kid

Express Kid outran his 34-1 odds in the Springboard Mile (Photo by Dustin Orona Photography/Remington Park)

Start(s): 5
Wins: 3
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Paradise Equine Farm, Bradley Kleven, and Sharon Kleven
Breeder: Richard Barton Enterprises
Trainer: Justin Evans
Jockey: Juan Hernandez

Top Speed Rating: (91) when winning the Remington Springboard Mile Stakes at Remington Park.
Total Earnings: $236,902

Sire: Bodexpress
Dam: Sensationalize
Color: Bay

Express Kid scored a big win on the Road to the Kentucky Derby when he dominated the Remington Springboard Mile S. by 6 1/4 lengths. The 91 Brisnet Speed rating he earned stacks up well against the Sunland Park Derby field, stamping Express Kid as a logical win threat.

Sharons Beach

Start(s): 3
Wins: 0
Place: 1
Show: 1

Owner: Panic Stable
Breeder: Bryan Hawk
Trainer: Jonathan Thomas
Jockey: John Velazquez

Top Speed Rating: (94) when finishing second in a $62,500 maiden optional claimer at Santa Anita.
Total Earnings: $15,400

Sire: Omaha Beach
Dam: Cosmic Code
Color: Bay

Sharons Beach owns the highest Brisnet Speed rating in the Sunland Park Derby field, having posted a 94 when finishing second in a $62,500 maiden optional claimer at Santa Anita. But that was a 6 1/2-furlong sprint, and Sharons Beach is winless in three starts, so facing tougher competition over a longer distance at Sunland could be difficult.

Pavlovian

Start(s): 8
Wins: 1
Place: 3
Show: 1

Owner: Reddam Racing
Breeder: Reddam Racing
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Jockey: Edwin Maldonado

Top Speed Rating: (85) when finishing fourth in the King Glorious S. at Los Alamitos.
Total Earnings: $116,450

Sire: Pavel
Dam: Mandy’s Grace
Color: Gray/roan

Last summer, Pavlovian finished second in the six-furlong Best Pal (G3) behind Desert Gate, who went on to finish second in a couple of Grade 1 races. But Pavlovian hasn’t been as effective since stretching out over one mile and beyond, so the Sunland Park Derby’s 1 1/16-mile distance is a question mark.

Forty Twenty

Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Randy Howg
Breeder: Randy Howg
Trainer: Robertino Diodoro
Jockey: Orlando Mojica

Top Speed Rating: (85) when winning a Turf Paradise maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $13,430

Sire: Candy Ride
Dam: Gorgeous Ginny
Color: Bay

Forty Twenty dominated a six-furlong maiden special weight at Turf Paradise by 12 lengths, so he clearly has talent. But the Sunland Park Derby is a much longer (and tougher) race. Taking home first prize won’t be easy, but a top-five finish is likely within reach for Forty Twenty.

Way Beyond

Way Beyond wins at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 7
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 1

Owner: Ed Orr and Susie Orr
Breeder: Manganaro Bloodstock, Iapetus Racing, and Jason Taylor Equine
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Keith Asmussen

Top Speed Rating: (86) when finishing second in the Riley Allison Derby at Sunland Park.
Total Earnings: $97,155

Sire: Twirling Candy
Dam: On My Way
Color: Dark bay/brown

Way Beyond fell just short of victory in the one-mile Riley Allison Derby at Sunland last month, running second by a nose. But he’d previously finished a distant fifth behind Express Kid in the Remington Springboard Mile, and he’ll need improvement to turn the tables.

Bricklin

Bricklin wins at Horseshoe Indiana. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 4
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Imagine Racing
Breeder: Haymarket Farm
Trainer: Rodolphe Brisset
Jockey: Cristian Torres

Top Speed Rating: (92) when winning a $125,000 allowance optional claimer at Oaklawn Park.
Total Earnings: $91,568

Sire: Nyquist
Dam: Majestic Vixen
Color: Dark bay/brown

Bricklin looms as a serious win threat after leading all the way to take a one-mile $125,000 allowance optional claimer at Oaklawn by 3 1/4 lengths. The 92 Brisnet Speed rating he posted is the second-highest number in the Sunland Park Derby field. Bricklin has improved with every race and may step forward again at Sunland.

Daneyko

Start(s): 5
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Roys Mansur
Breeder: Roys Mansur
Trainer: Edward Kereluk
Jockey: Alfredo Juarez Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (86) when winning the Riley Allison Derby at Sunland Park.
Total Earnings: $76,580

Sire: Vekoma
Dam: Nat Gio
Color: Bay

Daneyko rallied gamely from far off the pace to win the Riley Allison Derby by a nose over Way Beyond, with the third-place finisher 13 3/4 lengths behind. There’s plenty of pace entered in the Sunland Park Derby, so don’t be surprised if Daneyko closes ground again to snag a top-three finish.

Buntus Foclora

Start(s): 5
Wins: 0
Place: 1
Show: 2

Owner: Donegal Racing
Breeder: Sally Thomas
Trainer: Amelia Green
Jockey: Reylu Gutierrez

Top Speed Rating: (86) when finishing third in an Aqueduct maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $44,200

Sire: Thousand Words
Dam: Orbiston Parva
Color: Dark bay/brown

Buntus Foclora has faced several talented rivals in maiden special weights in New York. But he’s yet to finish higher than second in five starts, so he’ll need a step forward to challenge for victory in the Sunland Park Derby.

Racing Roundtable -- Episode 122 | Derby Dreams or Duds?@AshleyAnd502, @James_Scully111, and Vance Hanson break down a jam-packed weekend on the RTKD, featuring the Southwest, Withers, Robert B. Lewis, and Sam F. Davis. https://t.co/sWTA2bdKrv

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) February 10, 2026