The Sunland Park Derby, despite losing its graded status for 2026, remains a significant race with a $500,000 purse and 42 Kentucky Derby qualifying points awarded to the top five finishers. This year’s competitive field features notable contenders such as Express Kid, a California-bred colt recently purchased for $800,000 after a dominant win in the Remington Springboard Mile Stakes, and Sharons Beach, an improving gelding with a strong pedigree and Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez aboard. Other key entrants include Pavlovian, Forty Twenty, Way Beyond, Bricklin, Daneyko, and Buntus Foclora, each bringing unique strengths and challenges to the race.

Express Kid is the favorite, showing promising workouts and a high-speed figure, while Sharons Beach is considered a live longshot due to recent improvement and strong jockey support. The race will be broadcast live on FanDuel TV, with expert picks favoring Express Kid and a suggested superfecta of 1-6-2-7, highlighting the top contenders expected to make an impact in this important Derby prep event.