The Sunland Derby at Sunland Park in New Mexico was scheduled to run on Sunday. However, earlier in the week, track officials canceled the race after conferring with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, the New Mexico Racing Commission, and New Mexico Gaming Control Board.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlthough there have been no known cases of the COVID-19 at the property, we are suspending operations out of an abundance of caution and to promote social distancing,\u201d said Director of Marketing for Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino Ethan Linder.<\/p>\n
The closure, which started last Monday, means Sunland Park will be closed through the first week in April.<\/p>\n
The winner of the race would have received 50 points toward qualifying for the Run for the Roses.<\/p>\n
In addition, the March 28 UAE Derby, a race that would have awarded 100 points to the winner, was also canceled when the Emirates Racing Authority announced the cancellation of the remainder of its 2019-20 racing season because of the pandemic.<\/p>\n
The first 170-point Derby prep race took place on Saturday, and favorite Wells Bayou went wire-to-wire to win the Grade II Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds Race Course.<\/p>\n
\n
With the win, the Brad Cox-trained colt earned 100 points toward the Kentucky Derby. That should be enough points to get the Louisville-native trainer an entry in his hometown\u2019s big race.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Cox has never fielded a horse for the Kentucky Derby.<\/p>\n
Jockey Florent Geroux said Wells Bayou enjoyed a great start.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe stands there perfectly and then breaks super sharp,\u201d Geroux said. \u201cAfter that, when he makes the lead, he relaxes very nicely. We took a few breathers around the turns and then when we turned down the lane, he didn\u2019t lose his gear.\u201d<\/p>\n
A 3-1 shot in a field of 14, Wells Geroux paid $8.40, $5.80, and $4.60. Ny Traffic, which finished a length and a half back to place, paid $21.60 and $12.60. Modernist paid $9.60 to show.<\/p>\n
After racing without fans on Saturday, officials at the Fair Grounds announced that night they would suspend the remainder of the meet, scheduled to end next Sunday, because of the COVID-19 outbreak.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Turns out there will be a Derby run on Derby Day after all. Oaklawn Racing and Gaming announced on Friday that it will move the Grade I Arkansas Derby, the Hot Springs, Ark., track\u2019s major Kentucky Derby prep, to May 2. That was supposed to be the day the Kentucky Derby was run. However, last […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":130846,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14577,16],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Oaklawn Pushes Arkansas Derby Back to May 2 After Ky Derby Moved<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n