The Sunland Park Oaks (formerly the WinStar Oaks) is an American Thoroughbred horse race open to three-year-old fillies and mares racing one mile (formerly one and one sixteenth miles) on the dirt. The Oaks, an ungraded stakes event, is currently held in February at Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino (founded in 1959) in New Mexico.

Sunland Park Oaks
Listed stakes race
LocationSunland Park Racetrack, Sunland Park, New Mexico,
United States
Inaugurated2001
Race typeThoroughbred - Flat racing
Race information
Distance1 mile (8 furlongs)
SurfaceDirt
Trackleft-handed
QualificationThree-year-old fillies
Purse$250,000

Once sponsored by WinStar Farm in Kentucky where Distorted Humor and Tiznow stand, the race offers a purse of $250,000. Begun as a one and one sixteenth mile race, then taken down to a mile, it went back to a one and one-sixteenth mile and in 2024 returned again to one mile.

Since 2013, the Oaks has been part of the Road to the Kentucky Oaks, a series of races through which fillies qualify for the Kentucky Oaks. As of 2024, the Sunland Park Oaks offers Kentucky Oaks (G1) qualifying points of 20-10-6-4-2 to the respective top five finishers. [1]

The race was not run in 2016 due to an outbreak of equine herpesvirus.[2] The race was not run in 2020 or 2021 due to the worldwide pandemic. [3]

National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey and Mike E. Smith, as well as jockeys Patrick Valenzuela and Cash Asmussen, all began their careers at Sunland Park.

Records

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Speed record:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

  • 8 - Bob Baffert (2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2019)

Most wins by an owner:

  • 2 - Karl Watson, Paul Weitman (2007, 2013)
  • 2 - Peachtree Stable (2011, 2012)
  • 2 - Chris G. Coleman (2004, 2023)

Winners

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Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time
2024 Recharge Joel Rosario Steven M. Asmussen Winchell Thoroughbreds 1 m 1:37.27
2023 Flying Connection Alfredo J. Juarez, Jr. Todd W. Fincher Brad King, Randy Andrews, Chris G. Coleman, Jim Cone, Suzanne Kirby & Lee Lewis 1-1/16 m 1:43.90
2022 Cleopatras Charge Jorge Carreno Gary W. Cross Samuel F. Henderson 1-1/16 m 1:46.33
2021 Race not held
2020
2019 Chasing Yesterday Drayden Van Dyke Bob Baffert Summer Wind Equine (Jane Lyon) 1-1/16 m 1:43.18
2018 Blamed Ken S. Tohill Joel H. Marr Cleber Massey 1-1/16 m 1:43.32
2017 Ghalia José Ortiz Todd A. Pletcher Sumaya U.S. Stable 1-1/16 m 1:44.24
2016 Race not held
2015 Maybellene Victor Espinoza Bob Baffert Natalie J. Baffert 1-1/16 m 1:42.90
2014 Awesome Baby Mike E. Smith Bob Baffert Kaleem Shah, Inc. 1-1/16 m 1:43.80
2013 Midnight Lucky Rafael Bejarano Bob Baffert Karl Watson, Mike Pegram & Paul Weitman 1-1/16 m 1:41.06
2012 Princess Arabella Martin Garcia Bob Baffert Peachtree Stable (John P. Fort) 1-1/16 m 1:43.52
2011 Plum Pretty Martin Garcia Bob Baffert Peachtree Stable (John P. Fort) 1-1/16 m 1:43.18
2010 Harissa Tyler Baze David Hofmans Gem, Inc. 1-1/16 m 1:42.90
2009 Gabby's Golden Gal Victor Espinoza Bob Baffert Arnold Zetcher 1-1/16 m 1:43.31
2008 Sky Mom Garrett Gomez Steven M. Asmussen Heather Stark 1-1/16 m 1:44.50
2007 Tough Tiz's Sis Victor Espinoza Bob Baffert Watson and Weitman Performances, LLC 1-1/16 m 1:45.18
2006 Sweet Fourty Victor Espinoza Jeffrey L. Mullins Michael House 1-1/16 m 1:43.73
2005 Cee's Irish Corey Nakatani Douglas F. O'Neill Merv Griffin Ranch Co. 1-1/16 m 1:44.66
2004 Speedy Falcon Ricardo Jaime Henry Dominguez Chris G. Coleman 1 m 1:36.57
2003 Island Fashion Ignacio Puglisi Nick Canani Everest Stable, Inc. 1 m 1:36.29
2002 No Turbulence Daryl Montoya J. Eric Kruljac Frank Lewkowitz, Dennis Grenier & Noreen Grenier 1 m 1:38.11
2001 Gems and Gold Daryl Montoya Ramon Gonzalez Anthony J. Trujillo & Aimee Trujillo 1 m 1:38.60

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Stronghold favored in shortened Sunland Derby". kentuckyderby.com. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Sunland Park Cancels Derby, Oaks". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  3. ^ "Sunland Derby canceled; racetrack and casino temporarily closed as a precaution". ktsm.com. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
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