Preview Racing


Luv Supreme Hopes to Reign Supreme in Sunland’s $191,284 West Texas Derby
Fastest qualifier Luv Supreme head a full field in Saturday’s 400-yard, $191,284 West Texas Derby (G3) at Sunland Park.

© Coady Photography
Luv Supreme Hopes to Reign Supreme in Sunland’s $191,284 West Texas Derby

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

SUNLAND PARK, NM—MARCH 23, 2015—Fastest qualifier Luv Supreme will be seeking her first career stakes win in Saturday’s 400-yard, $191,284 West Texas Derby (G3) at Sunland Park.

Trained by James J. Gonzales II for owners Cody J. Cobb, San Gregorio Racing Stables Inc., and World Champion Racing Stables LLC, Luv Supreme was a prompt odds-on favorite in the last of six trials on March 6. The Mr Jess Perry filly has won four of eight starts and has earned $180,422, and her resume includes a third-place finish behind Heza Dasha Fire and Apollitical Blood in the 400-yard, $1.031-million Golden State Million Futurity (G1) at Los Alamitos.

Joe Badilla Jr. will ride Luv Supreme from post 5 in the West Texas Derby.

El Damazo, a horse for the Sunland Park course, drew the rail post and will be ridden by Esgar Ramirez. Racing for Daniel Balderrama, Juan Castro, and Sergio F. Castro from the barn of Jose Luis Vargas, the bay son of Desirio has won three of five starts -- all at Sunland -- and has earned $74,781. The colt ran second, a half of a length behind winner Boi George, in last year’s 300-yard West Texas Futurity (G2).

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds--

  1. El Damazo (Esgar Ramirez), 4-1
  2. Stolis Bud (Jimmy Coates), 20-1
  3. Chicks Deville (Emilio Tapia), 12-1
  4. Apollitical Sign (Jaime P. Leos), 20-1
  5. Luv Supreme (Joe Badilla Jr.), 3-1
  6. This Fire Is Cold (Jesse Levario), 6-1
  7. PYCs Little Lady (Manuel Gutierrez), 8-1
  8. Tempting Destiny (G.R. Carter Jr.), 7-2
  9. Mr Special Cartel (Adrian Ramos), 12-1
  10. V P Cornbread (Felipe Garcia-Luna), 5-1.

The West Texas Derby, and all Sunland Park races, can be seen at Q-RacingVideo.com.