US Horse Racing Tips: Paul Quigley’s Best Bets for Sunday’s Races Stateside

US Racing Betting Tips - Sunday, February 16, 2025

• 19:25 Sunland Park - Barossa @ 2/1
• 19:51 Sunland Park - Indy's Song @ 5/1
• 20:18 Sunland Park - Discovery N Sight e/w @ 10/1
• 20:45 Sunland Park - Street Mark @ 5/1
• 21:13 Sunland Park - Love Tank @ 5/2
• 21:43 Sunland Park - Bold Charlie @ 5/1
• 22:13 Sunland Park - Maysam @ 9/5
• 22:44 Sunland Park - Thatsaterribleidea @ 9/2
• 23:50 Sunland Park - Knock Knock Joke @ 5/2

*Prices are the expected opening odds when the markets open

Sunland Park in New Mexico host the best of the stakes action on Sunday. The feature races are the $400,000 Sunland Park Derby and the $250,000 Sunland Park Oaks. As ever when the America's top horsemen say 'show me the money', they are prepared travel. Trainers such as Bob Baffert, Wes Ward and Steve Asmussen all have runners. As for the riders, Florent Geroux, Joel Rosario and Juan Hernandez ship in from the bigger racetracks for mounts. 

Bob Baffert is no stranger to success in both races. His Getaway Car will be all the rage for The Sunland Park Derby and stablemate Maysam even shorter for The Sunland Park Oaks. Before unloading on one or both of them, bear in mind what happened when the trainer last had runners at this meet in 2023. Both his runners were well beaten at odds on in the feature races.         

The trio of supporting stakes at Sunland are interesting too. In addition, there are some solid propositions in some of the lesser races.      

Sunland Park Race 1 (19:25) - No6 Barossa 

No6 Barossa has won six of his last seven races since Sherry Armstrong took over his training. The last two were clear-cut victories at today's level. He meets a slightly tougher field here but is hard to get away from. No4 McGeorge is also in fine form but has to prove himself beyond sprint distances. For the forecast or as a value alternative to No6 Barossa, No5 Northern Quest may be a better proposition.    

Sunland Park Race 2 (19:51) - No11 Indy's Song 

This looks pretty open. No6 Cerveza and No11 Indy's Song were second and third respectively in a similar event om 10 January. No6 Cerveza has ran well in open company subsequently. No11 Indy's Song draws better this time. He gets a tepid vote. No7 Clue ran well in the face of a stiff task in a productive event last time. No9 Majorwayhome who now faces New Mexico breds are others for the shortlist.    

Sunland Park Race 3 (20:18) - No11 Discovery N Sight (each way) 

On form, the class dropping Shug's Rocket (6) has as good a chance as any. There is a possibility he could sit too close to lively early fractions. With that in mind, backing a runner more patiently ridden could be the way to go. No11 Discovery N Sight is on a long, losing run. In fairness, he's had some tough draws lately. Maybe back him each way with a small forecast with Shug's Rocket (6).  

Sunland Park Race 4 (20:45) - No3 Street Mark 

This is tricky with the tepid vote going to No3 Street Mark. She 'ran into one' last time. No 9 Sheza Hailstorm may be the best of the pace brigade. No4 Restless Mover has been placed in back to back claimers since she won well in December. She seems a must for the forecast at least.   

Sunland Park Race 5 (21:13) - The Harry Henson Stakes - No5 Love Tank 

No3 Corrina Corrina is the best New Mexico of all time. She is dominant in the state bred ranks but has won open stakes like this one. The six year old probably has the right off the pace running style for this race. She can win this along with a few others like California invader No4 Don't Bring Crazy. Maybe key to the outcome is a conditions race run at Zia Park on 5 November. No5 Love Tank beat No1 Valence by three plus lengths. The winner lost her chances pre race in Texas next time. No1 Valence franked the form in stake when winning a $300,000 stake. 

Sunland Park Race 6 (21:43) – The Red Hedeman Mile Stakes - No4 B Bold Charlie 

Of these newly turned three year olds, No2 Holy Hank has shown by far the most ability so far. He's been first past the post in his last three starts, all stakes over six furlongs. If he stays a mile, he's likely to win this. No4 B Bold Charlie beat a few of these when winning a stake over a similar distance to today's at Zia Park in December. What he lacks in ability over No2 Holy Hank may be made up by his proven stamina. He may be the play at the odds. He's one of quite a few who could upset the favourite. That includes No7 American Ranger Bb who caught the eye on his career debut.

Sunland Park Race 7 (22:13) – The Sunland Park Oaks - No4 Maysam 

Bob Baffert has won seven of the last thirteen running's of this race. He is responsible for likely short prices favourite No4 Maysam here. She was all the rage on debut at Santa Anita and won by six widening lengths. That was over six and a half furlongs. The extra distance is unlikely not to be a problem bearing in mind her pedigree.  

No4 Maysam may make the market for others. Steve Asmussen won this race last year. He is doubled handed. Both his runners faced pretty straightforward tasks in Texas last time. No2 Runnin N Gunnin has two turn experience. Her stablemate No5 Enchanting is only twice raced and is bred to stay.

Sunland Park Race 8 (22:44) - Peppers Pride Stakes – No7 Thatsaterriblidea 

None of these newly turned three year olds has ran further than six and a half furlongs. No doubt some of them will improve or regress now trying a mile for the first time. No1 American Cherub beat No3 Sapello Samba in a stake over six furlongs last month. She should get his distance, bearing mind her dam was a quality New Mexico bred over a trip. However, slight preference is for her stablemate No7 Thatsaterriblidea. She is improving, beating a fair yardstick in a maiden last month with No11 F S Liberty Belle back in third. Maybe a small win bet on her and a reversed forecast with No1 American Cherub.  

Sunland Park Race 9 (23:17) – The Sunland Park Derby  

You can read Paul's full Sunland Park Derby 2025 Picks & Betting Analysis in a separate article here on Betfred Insights...

Sunland Park Race 10 (23:50) - No8 Knock Knock Joke  

No4 Golden Greek and No2 Compelling Uncle filled the places in a maiden here last month. The pair are players again but there is an interesting new face to New Mexico in here. The pick of the form of No8 Knock Knock Joke out of state seems a tad better than the locals. He has worked well for his new trainer and may be worth siding with.