Southern Africa heads WinStar Derby

SOUTHERN AFRICA (Cape Town), winner of the Borderland Derby at Sunland Park,

returns to New Mexico on Saturday for the $500,000 WinStar Derby. The Mike Puhich-trained

colt overcame a troubled trip to capture the 1 1/16-mile Borderland Derby by 1

1/4 lengths last out, and he'll stretch out to nine furlongs and face seven

rivals this time. The Kentucky-bred sophomore remains eligible for the $500,000

bonus to any horse who sweeps the Borderland, WinStar and Kentucky Derby (G1).

Other contenders include Whirlaway S. victor SORT IT OUT (Out of Place), who

will be ridden for trainer Bob Baffert by Pat Valenzuela, Borderland Derby

runner-up THOR'S ECHO (Swiss Yodeler) and multiple stakes hero CAJUN PEPPER

(Barricade).

The complete field, from the rail with pilots, is QUIET MONEY (Seattle Slew),

Alfredo Juarez Jr.; RIVERMAN JACK (Cape Canaveral), Jorge Bourdieu; Thor's Echo,

Corey Nakatani; DOVER DERE (Cherokee Run), Felipe Martinez; TUDOR NEEDED (River

Flyer), Glen Murphy; Cajun Pepper, Ken Tohill; Southern Africa, Jon Court; and

Sort It Out.

All starters will carry 122 pounds.

Multiple Stakes heroine CEE'S IRISH (Cee's Tizzy) tops a field of eight

fillies entered for the $250,000 WinStar/Sunland Park Oaks on Saturday's

undercard. Trained by Doug O'Neill, the gray three-year-old just missed when

finishing second in the grassy China Doll S. at Santa Anita in her most recent

outing and will be ridden by Nakatani. ISLAND ESCAPE (Petionville), who exits a

score in the Cactus Cup H. at Turf Paradise, is among her top rivals in the 1

1/16-mile test.