Sunland Park – Sunland Derby Grade III – 1 1/8 Miles
Talk about an upset, Endorsement put himself in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby after he beat 3-5 favorite Conveyance in the race at Sunland Park for the Sunland Derby Grade III for $800,000. Endorsement is the latest in quality out of the 3 year old colts to emerge from the WinStar Farm operation of Bill Casner and Kenny Troutt.
“This horse, I think he moved right up there with Rule and Super Saver,” said Casner of Endorsement. Endorsement moved clear of his rivals through fractions of 23.71 seconds for the first quarter and then 48.04 for the half mile. When the final turn came, Endorsement began to advance and evened up with Conveyance at the quarter pole, and then overtook Conveyance in the final stretch to cover the 1 1/18 mile track in 1:48.46. The Sunland Derby is the richest of six stakes. The total worth is $1.4 million on the richest card of the meet at Sunland.
Endorsement is trained by Shannon Ritter and she said it was the biggest win of her career. “He’s really been improving since his win at Oaklawn, and his last work was just amazing,” Ritter said.
Endorsement ended up earning $400,000 for his win the Sunland Derby, which was run as a graded stakes race for the first time since 2003. Endorsement is the son of Distorted Humor. While Endorsement finished first in the race, Tempted to Tapit finished third, three lengths behind the undefeated Conveyance.
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