Getaway Car edges Caldera in 2025 Sunland Derby, picks up points for Kentucky Derby

Posted by author February 17, 2025 Horse Racing

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Getaway Car showed talent and a great heart in winning Sunday’s 20th edition of the Sunland Derby at Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino.

The Kentucky-bred son of Curlin led for much of the 1 1/16th miles, $400,000 race, briefly lost the lead and rallied again down the stretch to hold off Caldera by a nose in arguably the most compelling Sunland Derby of all-time.

It took the stewards a few minutes to look at the various angles of the race to determine the winner.

Getaway Car earned 20 qualifying points to this year’s Kentucky Derby.

Winning jockey Juan Hernandez said his initial thought was that it was 50-50 after both horses crossed the finish line.

“It was a great finish, it was a hard fought race,” Hernandez said. “Caldera passed me down the stretch, but Getaway Car showed all the heart in the world. Caldera is a great horse.”

Getaway Car, who started out of the No. 4 post, went off as the 6-5 favorite and returned $4.40 to win. Caldera started out of the No. 9 post and left the gate at odds of 4-1.

Trainer Bob Baffert earned his fourth Sunland Derby win. Caldera’s trainer, D. Wayne Lukas was seeking his first Sunland Derby win. The Sunland Derby win was the first for Hernandez.

The winning time was 1:42.64. Touchy finished a distant third with jockey Joel Rosario aboard.

Getaway Car, who has won three of seven career starts with two-second-place finishes, is owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, and Dianne Bashor. The winners collected a $232,800 paycheck.

What did assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes say

Barnes, who has been the longtime assistant to Baffert, was thrilled with victory.

“Juan did a great job and did what wanted by going to the front,” Barnes said. “This race was a good spot for Getaway Car. We’ll see where we go from here, but this was a great race.”

Attendance, total money wagered on Sunland Derby day

Sunday’s attendance was 14,195 and the total amount of money wagered on the 10 race card was $4,239,375.

Runnin N Gunnin wins Sunland Oaks

Runnin N Gunnin won the mile Sunland Oaks for trainer Steve Asmussen and with jockey Alfredo Juarez Jr. aboard. The winning time was 1:40.9.

Runnin N Gunnin paid $13.80 to win. Enchanting was second and Stubby was third. Asmussen also trains Enchanting and Sunland Park based trainer Dick Cappellucci trains Stubby.

Corrina Corrina wins Harry Henson Handicap

The New Mexico-bred Corrina Corrina pulled away in the final 200 yards to win the one mile Harry Henson Handicap for trainer Gary Cross and jockey Tracy Hebert. The race was for fillies and mares.

Corrina Corrina has now won 19 times from 36 starts, including eight wins at Sunland Park.

Mojica wins the Red Hedeman Mile

Mojica won the Red Hedeman Mile for his second win in three starts in 1:39.65. The winning jockey was Jose Miguel Vasquez and the winning trainer was Luis Rojero.

Forty Five wins Peppers Pride Handicap

Sunland Park based trainer Dick Cappellucci won the one mile New Mexico bred stakes race with Forty Five. Ramon Vasquez was the winning jockey. Thatsaterriblidea was second, Sirrah was third.

Felix F. Chavez can be reached at fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezeptimes on X