Country Club Crush and jockey Miiguel Fuentes Jr. arrive at the wire ahead of her rivals in the $80,000 La Senora Stakes, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026 at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino. (Coady Media)
Country Club Crush and jockey Miiguel Fuentes Jr. arrive at the wire ahead of her rivals in the $80,000 La Senora Stakes, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026 at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino. (Coady Media)Coady Media

SUNLAND PARK – A pair of $175,000 New Mexico-bred stakes races will headline a high-profile Sunday program at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino, featuring the 21st running of the New Mexico Breeders’ Derby and the 16th edition of the New Mexico Breeders’ Oaks.

Coming off a dominant three-length victory in the Red Hedeman Mile, Buy Local has been installed as the 2-1 morning line favorite for the 1 1/16-mile Derby.

Owned by J. Kirk and Judy Robison and trained by Todd Fincher, the son of Sporting Chance is seeking his third career win. After breaking his maiden as a 2-year-old in November, Buy Local successfully transitioned to route racing in his last start, leading almost gate-to-wire. He has earned more than $141,000 and will break from post two under Christian Ramos.

Sunday’s Stakes Lineups

Sunday Race Lineups

New Mexico Breeders’ Oaks, (Race Six) 1 1/6 miles1. Country Club Crush (5-2), Miguel Fuentes Jr.2. Awesome Glory (6-1), Orlando Mojica3. Unwound (4-1), Christian Ramos4. Marka (9-5), Luis Valenzuela5. Holy Miss (8-1), Francisco Amparan6. I Am Paula Revere (9-2), Oscar Andrade Jr.

New Mexico Breeders’ Derby (Race Seven) 1 1/16 miles1. American Century (3-1), Luis Negron2. Buy Local (2-1), Christian Ramos3. M G Rojo Loco (20-1), Javier Ortega4. Cash Waterfall (5-2), Luis Valenzuela5. Wareisthelute (8-1), Alejandro Medellin6. Ghosted Again (4-1), Oscar Andrade Jr.

Fincher also saddles the 5-2 second choice, Cash Waterfall. The stablemate finished third behind Buy Local in the Red Hedeman Mile and has never finished worse than third in six career starts. Luis Valenzuela is named to ride from post four.

The Fincher trio is completed by Ghosted Again (4-1), a recent maiden winner at Sunland Park. Trainer Dick Cappellucci will challenge the favorites with American Century (3-1), a sharp debut winner on March 9 who will be testing a route distance for the first time from the rail.

NM Breeders’ Oaks: Marka aims for repeat performance

In the $175,000 Oaks, scheduled as the sixth race on the card, Marka has been named the 9-5 morning line favorite following her convincing upset in the Peppers Pride Stakes.

Trained by Fincher and owned by Robert M. and Del Rae Driggers and Ben Lee Ivey, Marka was an 11-1 longshot when she secured a 4 1/4-length win on Feb. 15. It was her first start beyond six furlongs and her first career victory. Luis Valenzuela will be in the irons Sunday.

The primary challenger is the Dallas Barton-trained Country Club Crush, the 5-2 second choice. The daughter of Marking has won three of five career starts, including stakes wins in the New Mexico Classic Lassie and the La Senora Stakes. With earnings exceeding $185,000, she will attempt to win around two turns for the first time under Miguel Fuentes Jr.

Simon Buechler’s Unwound (4-1) remains a maiden after three starts but has never finished off the board. She enters the Oaks following a second-place finish to Marka in her last outing and will be ridden by Christian Ramos.