Sunland Derby

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

CONVEYANCE (Indian Charlie) will make his final Kentucky Derby (G1) prep in

Sunday's $800,000 Sunland Derby, which was elevated to Grade 3 status for

the first time this year, and the Bob Baffert-trained colt looks like the

controlling speed in the nine-horse field. Undefeated in four career starts, the

gray colt opened his sophomore campaign with a solid 1 3/4-length score in the

San Rafael S. (G3) at Santa Anita and made a successful transition to dirt in

the Southwest S. (G3) at Oaklawn Park, winning easily by three-quarters of a

length. He netted an excellent 102 BRIS Speed rating last time, and we can't

envision him having any trouble stretching his speed to nine furlongs with his

pedigree.

We give NACHO FRIEND (Friends Lake) the best chance at an upset. An

impressive six-length debut winner in his career bow at Monmouth Park, the Kelly

Breen-trained colt recorded a troubled, fast-finishing fourth when making his

stakes bow in the Sanford S. (G2) next out. He didn't make his next start until

the March 6 Gotham S. (G3), returning off the lengthy layoff with a good third,

beaten only three lengths by Awesome Act (GB) (Awesome Again), and earned a

career-best 99 BRIS Speed rating for the effort. The chestnut colt is eligible

to move forward off that effort, and we'll look for him to rally from midpack

for runner-up honors.

TEMPTED TO TAPIT (Tapit) is eligible to outperform our expectations with

further improvement. A striking 11 1/2-length maiden winner in the slop at

Aqueduct two starts back, he proved legit when registering a good second in the

Risen Star (G2) last time, only 1 1/2 lengths back of Discreetly Mine

(Mineshaft). The Steve Klesaris-trained gray owns good speed and figures to be

tracking the heavy favorite in second or third during the early stages, and we

won't be surprised to see him throw a scare into our top choice.

STORMING SAINT (Sweetsouthernsaint) scored via disqualification in

the Borderland Derby last time and looms a top three candidate given his

affinity for the New Mexico track. Trained by Henry Dominguez, his BRIS Speed

ratings don't compare favorably with our top three choices, but he owns good

tactical speed and is capable of grabbing a small share with a career-best

effort.

FOG ALERT (Thunder Gulch) also deserves some consideration for the exotics

with his solid turn of foot. The Brant Taylor pupil led in midstretch before

weakening slightly to fourth in the El Camino Real Derby (G3) last time and

appears to be entering this race on the upswing. He could possibly add value to

the trifecta or superfecta. ENDORSEMENT (Distorted Humor) takes a steep class

hike off a maiden score at Oaklawn Park. The Shannon Ritter trainee owns some

decent Speed figs in his last couple of starts, but we'll give him a race

against winners.

CLASSICAL SLEW (Bernstein) could show some speed in his first start at two

turns, but we've been disappointed with the way he's been finishing his recent

races. Trainer Doug O'Neill hopes he shows more in his dirt debut on Sunday, but

we can't recommend the colt's chances. MCKENNA'S JUSTICE (Medaglia d'Oro) and

GUILTYBYASSOCIATION (Birdstone) don't look fast enough to challenge.