WinStar Derby attracts 10 three-year-olds

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Sunland Park, NM (Sports Network) - A competitive field of 10 three-year-olds has been entered for Sunday's sixth running of the $600,000 WinStar Derby at Sunland Park. The 1 1/8 mile Kentucky Derby prep has a scheduled post-time of 7:30 p.m. (et).

The 3-1 morning-line favorite is Liberty Bull trained by Tom Amoss. The colt will be ridden by Eddie Razo, Jr. from the far outside post for owner Kenneth Maier.

Liberty Bull is coming out of the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park where he finished in a dead-heat for third behind the winner Denis of Cork. He won the Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn in January as the 2-1 favorite.

The three-year-old closed 2007 with a second place finish in the Sugar Bowl Stakes at the Fair Grounds. Liberty Bull has won two of five starts for $103,592.

Trainer Jeff Mullins sends out Winsome Charm as the 7-2 second choice in the program. Owned by A and R Stable and Class Racing, the colt will start from post two with Tyler Baze coming into ride from California.

Winsome Charm was second to Bob Black Jack in the Sunshine Millions Dash at Santa Anita Park. Bob Black Jack set a world record for six furlongs in that race of 1:06.53.

Local winner Poni Colada is the 9-2 third choice in the field of 10. Last month he won the Borderland Derby here by eight lengths for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Poni Colada will again be ridden by Alfredo Juarez Jr. from the inside post. Owned by Robert Zollars and Mark Wagner, the colt has earned more than $123,000 in his career. He was sixth to Liberty Bull in January's Smarty Jones Stakes.

Here is the complete field for the WinStar Derby in post position order: Poni Colada, Alfredo Juarez, Jr. 9-2; Winsome Charm, Tyler Baze 7-2; Ablaze With Spirit, Garrett Gomez 5-1; No Jepordy, Corey Nakatani 8-1; Banker's Way, Jorge Bourdieu 20-1; Capetown Royal, Joe Martinez 20-1; Cape Time, Ken Tohill 10-1; Deputyville, Glen Murphy 15-1; Screen to Screen, Aaron Gryder 8-1 and Liberty Bull, Eddie Razo, Jr. 3-1.

All starters will carry 122 pounds.