By DRF.com
SUNLAND PARK, N.M. (Apr. 7, 2024) — California-bred odds-on favorite Alotaluck became a stakes winner on Sunday when he moved past No Trouble in the stretch for a 2 1/2-length win in the $125,000 Mine That Bird Derby at Sunland Park.
It was another 4 3/4 lengths back in third to Young Pope.
The Mine That Bird Derby was one of five stakes on the closing-day card. The stakes were worth a total of $650,000. Presidential won the richest offering, the $200,000 Sunland Park Handicap.
Alotaluck ($2.10) came into the Mine That Bird Derby off a runner-up finish to Stronghold in the Grade 3, $400,000 Sunland Park Derby. Stronghold returned to win the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on Saturday. Alotaluck, meanwhile, tracked the pace set by No Trouble on Sunday, with that one taking the field through fractions of 23.54 for the opening quarter, 47.81 for the half-mile, and 1:12.65 for six furlongs.
Alotaluck moved in on No Trouble from there, and worked to get past the leader in the stretch before shaking free late and going on to cover the 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:44.53. Tracy Hebert was aboard the winner, who is a California-bred son of Sir Prancealot.
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Alotaluck, who is nominated to the Triple Crown, is now 2 for 4 for earnings of $207,360. His dam, Colinda Dawn, won the Colorado Derby in 2015. Ty Garrett, who trains Alotaluck, said the Mine That Bird Derby could lead to some other derby starts in the region. Garrett trains Alotaluck for his aunt, breeder/owner Eleanor Martin.
“I think we’ll probably take a look at some of the derbies in the Midwest, later on in the summer,” Garrett said, “look at races like the Iowa Derby, maybe the Oaklahoma Derby. We’ll try to hit some of those. He’s a California-bred. There’s good money there, too.”