Meet the Contenders: 2026 Sunland Park Derby
Sunland Park - Coady Photography
February 11th, 2026
Meet the horses running in the 2026 Sunland Park Derby at Sunland Park. For each horse, we're listing a pro, a con, and a rating of potential. The star rating of 1 to 5 represents the opportunity to perform well. Be sure to follow these contenders by adding them to your stable alerts.
Longshot Express Kid dominated the Remington Springboard Mile (Photo by Dustin Orona Photography/Remington Park)
#1 Express Kid *****
Pro: Overcame wide draw to win Springboard Mile S. in a romp.
Con: Will be a vastly shorter price here and will be wearing the target.
TwinSpires
#2 Sharons Beach ****
Pro: Lost photo to next-out winner but earned 94 Brisnet Speed rating at Santa Anita.
Con: On the improve but still a maiden after three starts.
TwinSpires
#3 Pavlovian ***
Pro: Faced generally classier on tougher California circuit.
Con: Didn’t make much progress in state-bred stakes after Grade 3 placing.
.@BeemieAwards discusses news of the day and welcomes in analyst @JoeyDaKRacing to talk Risen Star Day at @fairgroundsnola! ⚜️
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) February 11, 2026
Listen here: https://t.co/04VIhYBKqg pic.twitter.com/mCJvoWUjRu
TwinSpires
#4 Forty Twenty **
Pro: Romped in Turf Paradise maiden for a generally high percentage barn.
Con: Takes significant class hike, and his distance ability is unknown.
Way Beyond wins at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)
#5 Way Beyond ***
Pro: Nose loss in Riley Allison Derby, his best run to date in stakes company.
Con: Veteran of seven starts, so seemingly possesses less upside.
Bricklin wins at Horseshoe Indiana. (Photo by Coady Media)
#6 Bricklin ****
Pro: Showed improved speed beating allowance foes at Oaklawn.
Con: Overmatched in lone previous stakes try, albeit as big longshot.
TwinSpires
#7 Daneyko ****
Pro: Rallied to win Riley Allison Derby after a slow start; well-suited to two turns.
Con: Could be up against it if the track favors speed types.
TwinSpires
#8 Buntus Foclora *
Pro: Invades from the classier New York circuit and gets Mario Gutierrez in the saddle.
Con: Still a maiden after five starts and has placed only three times.
