The Sunland Park Derby lost its graded status for 2026 but still offers a half-million-dollar purse and, perhaps more importantly, 42 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve distributed to the top five finishers. This year’s renewal drew a competitive field of 3-year-olds shipping in to New Mexico from all parts of the U.S. It will be televised live Sunday on FanDuel TV.

1. Express Kid (3-1 morning-line odds): This California-bred colt was purchased by last month in a Fasig-Tipton digital flash sale for $800,000 and transferred to a new trainer. Those actions followed a blowout win in the Remington Springboard Mile Stakes in December, when he romped by 6 ¼ lengths and earned a high speed figure. He hadn’t done much before then, but his workouts at Sunland Park over the past several weeks indicate he could be legit.

JOCKEY: Juan Hernandez; TRAINER: Justin Evans

2. Sharons Beach (10-1): After showing little in two starts in Virginia last summer, this gelding ran much better in his 3-year-old debut Jan. 23 at Santa Anita Park, losing a 6 ½-furlong sprint by a neck to an opponent who then won his next start. He has the pedigree to stretch out and Hall of Famer John Velazquez flies in to ride. An upset candidate.

JOCKEY: John Velazquez; TRAINER: Jonathan Thomas

3. Pavlovian (8-1): Has made eight starts in California for trainer Doug O’Neill, who has won this race three times. All but one of his races came against Cal-breds, and in his 3-year-old bow he finished third in the California Chrome Cal Cup Derby held at 1 1/16 miles. He’s had slow starts in his three most recent races and can’t afford one again here. Adds blinkers, which will hopefully help.

JOCKEY: Edwin Maldonado; TRAINER: Doug O’Neill

4. Forty Twenty (6-1): Ships in from Turf Paradise in Arizona, where he dominated nine opponents in a Jan. 15 maiden race, winning by 12 lengths at 1-10 odds. Faces a big class hike here and probably will try to win this race leading from gate to wire.

JOCKEY: Orlando Mojica; TRAINER: Robertino Diodoro

5. Way Beyond (4-1): Comes in off of a nose loss in the Riley Allison Derby held at one mile on this track, a race in which he led in the stretch but could not hold off Daneyko. Meets that foe again but also several formidable entrants shipping in from outside the state. Connections must be respected.

JOCKEY: Keith Asmussen; TRAINER: Steve Asmussen

Bricklin (Coady Media)

6. Bricklin (7-2): Was withdrawn from the Southwest Stakes last week at Oaklawn Park to run here. He comes in off of a front-running, 3 ¼-length score in a one-mile allowance-optional claiming race at Oaklawn, which was his 3-year-old debut and a much improved effort over his three 2025 starts. Red-hot jockey Cristian Torres was aboard in that Oaklawn win and travels to ride Sunday.

JOCKEY: Cristian Torres; TRAINER: Rodolphe Brisset

7. Daneyko (9-2): Won the Riley Allison Derby last month at this track by a nose over Way Beyond, finishing strong with Sunland’s current leading rider Alfredo Juarez Jr. aboard. Raced primarily at Turf Paradise before that with some success. A hard-trying type who faces a class jump against some of these out-of-state shippers. Can hit the board with a top effort.

JOCKEY: Alfredo Juarez Jr.; TRAINER: Edward Kereluk

8. Buntus Foclora (12-1): Colt named after a children’s picture dictionary that teaches Irish vocabulary (and a clever spin on his sire’s name, Thousand Words) comes in from New York where he’s winless in five career starts. Has experience racing a mile but truthfully hasn’t shown much of a winning kick. Could pass some tiring runners late, but securing victory – or bua – would be a surprise.

JOCKEY: Reylu Gutierrez; TRAINER: Amelia Green

THE PICK: Express Kid

LIVE LONGSHOT: Sharons Beach

SUPERFECTA: 1-6-2-7