16th Annual Sunland Derby sends unexpected winner to the Kentucky Derby

The 16th Annual Sunland Park Derby ran at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino entertained all who came out to watch the race.

The favorite and 8 to 5 odds to win, Mucho Gusto owned by legandary trainier Bob Baffert held the first position before the race began.

The other horse that looked to give Mucho Gusto its stiffest competition, Anothertwistoffate was a 3 to 1 favorite entering the contest.

The horses broke out of the gates clean.

Mucho Gusto took an early lead that he held throughout the race.

Coming into the final turn though the thorough bred seemed to run out of gas.

That’s when Cutting Humor, the horse Johnny Velazquez rode made his move.

Anothertwistoffate though saw its chance and bolted for the front of the pack as well.

It all came down to the wire but in the end Cutting Humor crossed the finish line first taking home the victory.

Winning the Sunland Derby automatically propels the horse into the heralded Kentucky Derby.

Winning jockey Johnny Velazquez said after the race, “It wa a little nerve racking, he started waiting and I was a little edgy. Once I got out there he responded, but it made me a little uncomfortable. ”