Liberty Bull favored in WinStar Derby

Despite drawing the outside post position, Smarty Jones S. winner LIBERTY

BULL (Holy Bull) has been installed as a lukewarm 3-1 favorite on the morning

line for Sunday's lucrative $600,000 WinStar Derby at Sunland Park. Unlike many

other Kentucky Derby (G1) preps with lesser purses, the WinStar Derby is not

graded, so earnings in this 1 1/8-mile event will not help a horse's chances of

getting into the Kentucky Derby if more than 20 are entered.

Trained by Tom Amoss, Liberty Bull gamely proved best in the inaugural

running of the one-mile Smarty Jones on Martin Luther King Day at Oaklawn Park. The

gray colt returned to finish in a dead-heat for third in the Southwest S. (G3)

at the same track and trip in his most recent start on February 18. Eusebio Razo

Jr., who rode Liberty Bull in both appearances in Hot Springs, returns in the

saddle.

Trainer Steve Asmussen will be represented by PONI COLADA (Volponi) and

ABLAZE WITH SPIRIT (American Spirit), who will be ridden by Alfredo Juarez Jr.

and Garrett Gomez, respectively. Poni Colada rolled to an eight-length victory

in the 1 1/16-mile Borderland Derby under Juarez in his last start, while Ablaze

with Spirit most recently captured the restricted Jim's Orbit S. by a half-length at Sam Houston Park. Poni Colada and Ablaze

with Spirit will be uncoupled

in the wagering and are listed at 9-2 and 5-1, respectively, on the morning

line.

Southern California shipper WINSOME CHARM (Silver Charm), who finished second

to record-setter Bob Black Jack (Stormy Jack) in the Sunshine Millions Dash two

back, is the 7-2 second choice on the morning line. The Jeff Mullins trainee

will be ridden by Tyler Baze.

CAPE TIME (Cape Canaveral) and NO JEPORDY (Storm Boot), who finished second

and third, respectively, in the Borderland Derby, are also entered. Conditioner

Bob Baffert will field the maiden SCREEN TO SCREEN (Deputy Wild Cat).

The WinStar Derby field, from the rail out, with jockeys and morning-line

odds, consists of Poni Colada; Winsome Charm; Ablaze with Spirit; No Jepordy,

Corey Nakatani, 8-1; BANKER'S WAY (Burbank), Jorge Bourdieu, 20-1; CAPETOWN

ROYAL (Cape Town), Joe Martinez, 20-1; Cape Time, Ken Tohill, 10-1; DEPUTYVILLE

(Deputy Warlock), Glen Murphy, 15-1; Screen to Screen, Aaron Gryder, 8-1; and

Liberty Bull.

All starters will carry 122 pounds.

The WinStar Derby is one of four stakes races on the richest

day of Thoroughbred racing at Sunland Park, which is located in New Mexico, across

from El Paso, Texas.

On the undercard, GRACE ANATOMY (Aldebaran) and SKY MOM (Maria's Mon) are the

top contenders in the $200,000

Sunland Park Oaks. The Doug O'Neill-trained Grace

Anatomy finished a close third in the Alcibiades S. (G1) last season and most

recently ran fifth in the Las Virgenes S. (G1) at Santa Anita. She is the 5-2

morning line favorite. Kentucky Cup Juvenile Fillies S. queen Sky Mom won the

first division of the Martha Washington S. at Oaklawn Park in her last start and

is the 3-1 second choice. A field of seven sophomore fillies will contest the 1

1/16-mile race.

Grade 1 winner TOUGH TIZ'S SIS (Tiznow), runner-up in the Santa Maria H. (G1)

in her last start, looms as the heavy favorite in the $100,000

Harry W. Henson

H. for fillies and mares at one mile.

An overflow field of 12 is entered in the $100,000

New Mexico Breeders' Derby

for state-bred three-year-olds. Multiple stakes winner BRAX (Night Fright) is

the 3-1 morning line favorite for the one-mile test.