Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino has a new slogan:
“Gateway to Greatness.”
And 
have gone on to win the Kentucky Derby (Mine That Bird in 2009) and the Belmont
Stakes (Ruler on Ice this year) and finish third in the Preakness (Astrology
this year). Those three races make up the Triple Crown.
In addition, a filly that won the Sunland Oaks (Plum Pretty this year) went on
to win the Kentucky Oaks.
Ruler on Ice, who finished third in the Sunland Derby in March, beat both this
year’s Kentucky Derby winner, Animal Kingdom, and this year’s Preakness champ,
Shackleford, in the Belmont Stakes last Saturday. And did it decisively.
NEEDLESS to say, Sunland officials are figuratively jumping up and down with
joy. There can be no doubt now that the Sunland Derby really deserves its Grade
III status. In fact, some folks believe the Sunland Derby should now be upgraded
to Grade II status. I asked general manager Harold Payne, director of operations Dustin Dix, mutuels
manager Steve Fedunak and simulcast coordinator Steve Pedigo if the Sunland
Derby should be upgraded. The consensus, of course, was “yes!” and Payne added,
“At the very least, they can’t take our Grade III away now.”
SUNLAND’S NEW slogan, “Gateway to Greatness,” was already in print prior to the
Belmont Stakes. Bob Baffert of California, one of the best trainers in the
country, had stated that Sunland Park is a great place to get horses ready for
the Triple Crown.
On top of that, “Chip” Woolley, who trained Mine That Bird to its Kentucky Derby
triumph, had heard someone use the phrase “gateway to greatness” in talking
about Sunland Park and told Sunland officials about it.
Sunland jumped on it and the slogan is already being used in advertisements and
such things as the new condition book.
TRIVIA QUESTION: Paul Newman starred in five movies about sports. Can you name
them? Answer at end.
IT WAS GREAT to see the Dallas Mavericks finally win a National Basketball
Association championship. I’ve always believed that the success of a team starts
with the coach, and what coach Rick Carlisle did with Dirk Nowitzki is of
eye-popping proportions:
It’s as if Carlisle came up with some kind of magic pill. Actually, what he did
is put the ball in his 7-foot giant’s hands and cut him loose. All of a sudden,
Nowitzki was not only shooting baskets from afar but driving for the basket like
a 6-foot guard. It was beautiful to watch. Miami was completely lost on how to
stop this suddenly-amazing whirlwind. Still, I give Miami credit for making it to the finals. It’s hard for any team
with a new lineup to win a title right away. The Heat will be around for some
time.
I’M GOING to miss Sun Bowl media relations director Trent Hilburn. As I revealed
in a previous column, he’s leaving to become assistant communications director
at Texas Tech. Trent, a hard-working researcher, loves to needle me in a joking way.
In a recent column, I wrote that Jack Curtice was the first UTEP coach to win a
Sun Bowl. “Technically, it’s correct, but technically it’s not,” Hilburn phoned.
“Curtice is the first to coach the Miners to a Sun Bowl victory but Mack Saxon
is the first UTEP coach to win a Sun Bowl game. Saxon coached the El Paso high
school all-stars to victory in the very first Sun Bowl in 1935.”
Okay, okay. When are you leaving, Trent? (Just joking. I’ll miss you).
ANSWER to trivia question: Somebody Up There Likes Me (boxing), Slapshot
(hockey), The Hustler and The Color of Money (pool) and Winning (auto racing).
Veteran sports journalist and author Ray Sanchez welcomes suggestions for his
column.