Trainer Bob Baffert will saddle the uncoupled entry of WANNA RUNNER (El
Corredor) and SKY DIVING (Aptitude) in Saturday’s $600,000 WinStar Derby, and
the former appears to be the one to beat in the nine-furlong test for
three-year-olds at Sunland Park.
Wanna Runner began the season with a decent third-place effort to Brother
Derek (Benchmark) and Stevie Wonderboy (Stephen Got Even) in the San Rafael S.
(G2) on January 14 at Santa Anita. In his most recent outing, the chestnut
attended the early running before diminishing to fifth in the El Camino Real
Derby (G3) on January 29 at Bay Meadows. Wanna Runner, who has trained forwardly
since then, will get re-equipped with blinkers, which he did not wear in the El
Camino Real Derby. Victor Espinoza, who rode the gelding to back-to-back, 1
1/16-mile victories last year, has the call.
Sky Diving opened up a clear lead turning for home before finishing second to
KEAGAN (Basket Weave) in the February 11 Turf Paradise Derby. In his most recent
outing, the Baffert trainee was not a factor in the San Felipe S. (G2) on March
18 at Santa Anita. Sky Diving also gets re-outfitted with blinkers. Julio Garcia
will ride Sky Diving for the first time.
Keagan has not started since his off-the-pace victory in the Turf Paradise
Derby. The Eric Kruljac trainee will break from Post 3 beneath regular rider
Scott Stevens.
The second-, fourth- and eighth-place finishers of Sunland’s Borderland Derby
— WAIT IN LINE (Line in the Sand), BELLIGERENCE (Robyn Dancer) and DOCTOR
DECHERD (Louis Quatorze), respectively — all return for the WinStar Derby.
The field, in post position order with jockeys, is Sky Diving; Wait in Line, Ken Tohill; Keagan; Doctor Decherd, Shaun Bridgmohan; Wanna Runner; WELFARE CADILLAC
(Successful Appeal), Ricky Frazier; BLAZE IT (What a Spell), David Cohen; MIGHT
BE HOOKED (Mighty), Miguel Perez; and Belligerence, Quyet Bui.
All starters will carry 122 pounds. Wait in Line and Belligerence will be
coupled in the wagering.
One race before, WELL HIDDEN (More Than Ready), who defeated VISUAL EFFECT (Anees),
LEGALLY WILD (Wild Deputy) and STARZAFLAME (Comet Shine) in Sunland’s Island
Fashion S. in her last start, will face Southern California shippers SWEET
FOURTY (Sweetsouthernsaint) and PRINCESS PATRICIA (Aptitude) in the $250,000
WinStar/Sunland Park Oaks.
Legally Wild will lead the post parade under jockey Michael Ziegler, and will
be followed by Sweet Fourty, Espinoza; Princess Patricia, Ricardo Jaime; Well
Hidden, Bridgmohan; Starzaflame, Perez; and Visual Effect, Tohill.
All entrants will tote 122 pounds.
The card also includes the $100,000
Harry W. Henson Breeders’ Cup H. for
fillies and mares and the $100,000
New Mexico Breeders Derby for New Mexico-bred
sophomores. Both races will be decided at one mile.