2026 Sunland Derby Odds, Betting, Picks

HORSE RACING
February 14, 2026
Saudi Cup Odds Forever Young

 

The $500,000 Sunland Derby may no longer carry graded status in 2026, but from a betting standpoint, it still punches above its weight. The 1 1/16-mile test for 3-year-olds on Sunday distributes 20-10-6-4-2 points toward the 2026 Kentucky Derby, and that is enough to reshape futures tickets in a hurry.

Race 9 at Sunland Park goes off at 6:17 p.m. ET, anchoring a stakes-heavy card and presenting one of those classic “buy now before the number collapses” opportunities for Kentucky Derby betting players watching closely.

First run in 2003, the Sunland Derby has a habit of injecting chaos into the Derby conversation. Mine That Bird finished fourth here before detonating the tote board at 50-1 in Louisville. Firing Line used this race as a springboard before finishing second to American Pharoah at Churchill Downs. It is not always pretty, but it is often predictive.

This year’s edition drew a competitive field of eight, and the pace scenario alone makes this a race that could set up for value.

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Express Kid Headlines

 

Express Kid is the 3-1 morning-line favorite and deservedly so. The son of Bodexpress was a sharp winner of the Springboard Mile and now makes his first start for trainer Jonathan Evans after being purchased for $800,000 at Fasig-Tipton’s January digital sale. He overcame adversity in that breakout win and now draws the rail, which should allow Juan J. Hernandez to dictate terms or save every inch of ground.

Hernandez won this race last year and has become one of the most reliable big-race riders in the country. If Express Kid moves forward even slightly off his last effort, he is the most likely winner and the logical single in multi-race wagers on the BUSR platform.

 

Proven Connections, Local Form

 

Way Beyond at 4-1 brings strong local credibility for Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen. He exits a narrow defeat in the Riley Allison Derby and reunites with Keith J. Asmussen. That combination is not here for exercise. If the rail horse falters, Way Beyond is the one most likely to capitalize.

Daneyko, listed at 9-2, already owns a win over this surface and retains Alfredo Juarez, Jr. Trainer Edward Kereluk spots his runners aggressively, and this colt’s late-running style could prove dangerous if the early fractions get ambitious.

Pavlovian at 8-1 gives Doug F. O’Neill another shot at Sunland success. Edwin A. Maldonado takes the call as blinkers return. The class lines are respectable, and if he travels kindly early, he has the back form to land in the trifecta at a square number.

Bricklin at 7-2 is the wildcard. The Nyquist colt was scratched from tougher company to land here, and Rodolphe Brisset clearly views this as a winnable spot. Cristian A. Torres climbs aboard. If he takes a step forward in his second start of the form cycle, he becomes a serious win candidate and a must-use underneath in vertical wagers.

Forty Twenty at 6-1 exits a dominant maiden score and now jumps into deeper water for Robertino Diodoro. Orlando Mojica retains the mount. The talent might be real. The experience gap is not imaginary.

Sharons Beach at 10-1 stretches out for the first time with Hall of Famer John R. Velazquez riding for Justin Thomas. If you are looking for a live longshot to spice up exactas and trifectas, this is the type. The pedigree suggests added distance could unlock improvement.

Buntus Foclora at 12-1, trained by Amelia J. Green and ridden by Reylu Gutiérrez, is still searching for a breakthrough at the stakes level. He will need a career-best effort, but at this price he only needs to clunk up for a piece to make exotic bettors smile.

 

Live Longshot: Sharons Beach

 

Sharons Beach feels like the forgotten horse in this field. With Velazquez aboard and a fresh distance test, he offers the right combination of upside and price. In a race where several runners have already shown their ceiling, he is one of the few who could jump forward dramatically.

Despite the loss of graded status, the Sunland Derby still functions as a meaningful stepping stone on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. For bettors, it is also a leverage race. A 20-point winner instantly enters the serious Derby conversation, and the futures board will adjust accordingly.

If you are playing this through BUSR, consider building around Express Kid while protecting with Bricklin and Way Beyond in horizontal wagers. For verticals, mixing in Sharons Beach underneath could be the difference between cashing and merely having a good opinion.

 

The Picks

 

1. Express Kid
2. Bricklin
3. Daneyko

 

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The Field for the $500,000 Sunland Derby

 

  • PP 1: Express Kid — Juan J. Hernandez, trainer Jonathan Evans — 3/1
  • PP 2: Sharons Beach — John R. Velazquez, trainer Justin Thomas — 10/1
  • PP 3: Pavlovian — Edwin A. Maldonado, trainer Doug F. O’Neill — 8/1
  • PP 4: Forty Twenty — Orlando Mojica, trainer Robertino Diodoro — 6/1
  • PP 5: Way Beyond — Keith J. Asmussen, trainer Steve Asmussen — 4/1
  • PP 6: Bricklin — Cristian A. Torres, trainer Rodolphe Brisset — 7/2
  • PP 7: Daneyko — Alfredo Juarez, Jr., trainer Edward Kereluk — 9/2
  • PP 8: Buntus Foclora — Reylu Gutiérrez, trainer Amelia J. Green — 12/1

 

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