The road to the Kentucky Derby continues when nine three-year-old thoroughbreds compete at the 2025 Sunland Derby on Sunday. Last year's race in Sunland Park was won by Stronghold, who went on to win the Santa Anita Derby and qualify for the Run for the Roses. At the end of the Sunland Park Derby 2025, one horse could be one step closer to punching his ticket to the Kentucky Derby. The 2025 Sunland Derby post time on Saturday is 6:17 p.m. ET.
Getaway Car is the 9-5 morning line favorite in the 2025 Sunland Derby odds, followed by Touchy (7-2), McKinzie Street (4-1), Caldera (5-1) and Take Charge Tom (8-1). With several talented three-year-olds set to enter the starting gate on Sunday, you'll want to see what racing reporter and insider Michelle Yu has to say before making any 2025 Sunland Park Derby picks.
Few people in racing are as well-connected as Yu. An on-air host and reporter who has provided racing analysis for TVG, HRTV and the Breeders' Cup, Yu has spent a lifetime in racing. Prior to her television career, she worked for trainers Steve Asmussen and Ron Moquett. She also is married to Santa Anita-based trainer Ryan Hanson.
Yu also has tremendous handicapping chops. In a wide-open Kentucky Derby in 2021, she gave out Medina Spirit, who crossed the finish line first, as the winner at 12-1. In Pool 5 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager two years ago, she suggested a play on All Other 3-Year-Olds, which cashed at a whopping 18-1 when Rich Strike won the Derby.
Last year, Yu correctly called National Treasure to win the Pegasus World Cup, predicted Stronghold's upset win in the Santa Anita Derby and smashed the exacta in the Apple Blossom Handicap. On the Belmont Stakes undercard, she nailed National Treasure's win in the Met Mile, and had the winner and exacta in the Woody Stephens Stakes. She closed out the year by hitting the exacta in the Breeders' Cup Classic.
Now, Yu has handicapped the 2025 Sunland Park Derby lineup, made her picks and constructed her best bets. You can head to SportsLine now to see them.
Top 2025 Sunland Derby predictions
One surprise: Yu is fading Getaway Car, even though he is the 9-5 favorite in the Sunland Derby odds 2025. The expert can see why this Bob Baffert-trained colt is the betting favorite, but isn't convinced he can lead the field at Sunland Park on Saturday. This son of Curlin won his first two races, then placed either second or fourth over his next four starts. Yu notes he will be a popular bet among those who look closely at Beyer Speed Figures, but isn't convinced he'll lead the pack because of his recent record.
"He has lost enough races to keep me from putting all of my chips on him," Yu told SportsLine. "He's a deserved favorite, but I have some doubts." You can see all of Yu's 2025 Sunland Park Derby bets here.
How to make 2025 Sunland Park Derby picks
Instead, Yu is high on a contender who "has a leg up on the field" and is intrigued by a double-digit longshot who "has shown versatility from a pace standpoint." She is including these horses in her 2025 Sunland Park Derby bets, and so should you. She's sharing which horses to back at SportsLine.
So who wins the 2025 Sunland Park Derby? And how has Yu constructed her wagers? Visit SportsLine to see Yu's picks for the Sunland Park Derby 2025, all from the Santa Anita-based racing insider who nailed last year's Pegasus World Cup winner, and find out.
2025 Sunland Park Derby odds, contenders
| Horse | Odds | Picks |
| Itsmybirthday | 20-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Remembering Big Jim | 12-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Smash It | 12-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Getaway Car | 9-5 | SEE PICKS |
| Spenard | 20-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Take Charge Tom | 8-1 | SEE PICKS |
| McKinzie Street | 4-1 | SEE PICKS |
| Touchy | 7-2 | SEE PICKS |
| Caldera | 5-1 | SEE PICKS |
