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West Texas Derby Trials Set for Saturday at Sunland Park
Mountain Top Futurity(RG2) winner Harkent will be among the hopefuls starting in Saturday's 400-yard West Texas Derby (G3) trials at Sunland Park.

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West Texas Derby Trials Set for Saturday at Sunland Park

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

SUNLAND PARK, NM–FEBRUARY 6, 2025–Forty-five sophomores, led by graded stakes winners Harken and Karmalites, are entered in Saturday's 400-yard West Texas Derby (G3) trials at Sunland Park.

A sorrel son of Eye Am King trained by Jesus M. Soto for owner Alepony LLC, Harken earned $260,422 from seven starts during his 2-year-old campaign, and his four wins included a nose victory in the June 16, $351,000 Mountain Top Futurity RG2 at Ruidoso Downs. The gelding was a $145,000 purchase at the 2023 New Mexico-Bred Sale.

Harken drew post 9 and will be ridden by Sergio Becerra Jr. in the first of five trials.

Karmalites is coming off of a juvenile season during which she banked $230,162 from nine outs and won two stakes, including the August 18, $153,000 John Deere Ruidoso Juvenile Challenge Stakes (G3) at Albuquerque Downs. Jorge Luis Sanchez Jr. trains the sorrel daughter of The Marfa Lights for owner Fabian Muniz Porras.

Karmalites drew post 4 and will be ridden by Luis Martinez in the third heat.

The 10 fastest qualifiers from Saturday's trials will meet in the March 1, $65,000-added West Texas Derby final.

All Sunland Park races can be seen at Q-Racing Video.com.

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