Chitu takes the win at the 2014 Sunland Derby

Chitu takes the win at the 2014 Sunland Derby: The grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby at Sunland Park ran for 1 1/8 miles took place on Sunday, March 23, 2014. It was Chitu who took home the win for trainer Bob Baffert, making it the third Sunland Derby victory for Baffert.

“The Sunland Derby is an important race,” Baffert said. “It has grown in significance over the years and this year it has some good horses again. Midnight Hawk is running good and Chitu has potential.”

It wasn’t Midnight Hawk who took the win though in the 2014 Sunland Derby; instead Chitu showed exactly what his potential is. It wasn’t an easy win though; Chitu battled it out with Midnight Hawk, the favorite going into the race, in a lengthy duel on the fast track, with Chitu pulling ahead just in time. In the beginning of the race, Chitu broke from the gate and went towards the inside track and stalked off of Garen, who was in the lead heading into the first turn. Midnight Hawk was able to sit on the outside of Chitu putting pressure on Chitu for most of the race. Eventually Garen tired out and Chitu and Midnight Hawk moved to the top of the pack, with Chitu taking the win by 2 ¼ lengths. Chitu was the 19-10 favorite and he posted a time of 1:47.88 earning Chitu 50 points towards the Kentucky Derby.

Chitu was bred in Kentucky and is a 3-year-old colt by Henny Hughes and this is the first graded stakes win for Chitu. It was a good day for Bafffert, jockey Martin Garcia, and Chitu and we will have to wait and see how the pair do at the Derby.

2014 Sunland Park Derby Results and Payouts
9-Chitu, $5.80 to Win, $3.20 to Place, $2.20 to Show
7-Midnight Hawk, $3.40 to Place, $2.40 to Show
3-Commissioner, $3.00 to Show
Also ran: 8 – Rebranded , 1 – Bourbonize , 4 – Global Strike , 2 – Garen , 5 – Tanzanite Cat , 6 – Lawly’s Goal

Sunland Park Derby Replay: