Fusa Code, a Kentucky-bred gelding by Fusaichi Pegasus racing for Bob and Cathy Zollars of Dallas, broke his maiden in Saturday's $100,000 Borderland Derby at Sunland Park.

Trained by Steve Asmussen and ridden by Justin Shepherd, Fusa Code covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.06, and his margin of victory was three-quarters of a length from 22-1 longshot Behold de Buy. The $60,000 winner's share of the purse increased his earnings to $82,844.

The Borderland Derby serves as the major local prep for the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby, which will be run on March 27. But Bob Zollars wasn't sure if that would mark Fusa Code's next out.

“We'd love to run him in the Sunland Derby, but we think he's distance-challenged,” he said. “This was a great test for him.”

Shepherd was riding Fusa Code for the first time in a race.

“He's a very talented horse,” said the rider. “Steve did a great job with him. He's still a little green – maybe too talented for his own good.

“Once he got on the lead, he tried waiting on them,” Shepherd added. “He should like more distance.”

A $55,000 buy at the 2009 Keeneland Association September Yearling Sale, Fusa Code was bred by Northwest Farms LLC, and the gelding became the 55^th stakes winner from eight crops sired by Fusaichi Pegasus, a 14-year-old son of Mr. Prospector whose four graded stakes victories included the 2000 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs. Fusaichi Pegasus has sired 1,035 starters and the earners of more than $65.6 million. He stands for a $15,000 fee at Ashford Stud at Versailles, Kentucky.

Fusa Code is also one of two winners from three starters foaled by Lasting Code, a 12-year-old daughter of the Codex stallion Lost Code and a seven-time stakes winner from 2001-04 at Emerald Downs in Washington and Hastings Park in Vancouver, British Columbia. The gelding's second dam, the winning Ogygian mare Cajun Nite Lady, produced nine starters, including the stakes-placed Nightofthegaelics filly Nite Time News.

Fusa Code's third dam, the winning Nijinsky II mare Lady Hardwick, foaled six winners from as many starters, including the late Miss Hardwick, a Grade 3-placed Honest Pleasure filly who won three stakes in New York and New Jersey in 1985, and Air Bag, a gelding by Devil's Bag who won two stakes at Emerald Downs and Yakima Meadows in '96.

Fusa Code has made five starts, and his record includes a second-place finish at odds of 10-1 in a one-mile maiden special weight race at Churchill Downs on November 19.

Special Kid, the 3-2 favorite, ran third and was followed by R Skydiver, What The Toccet, Carsoncitygambler, It's My Party, Expecting Cash, Orion Express, and Mason's Pegasus.

Runner-up Behold de Buy is a bay colt by E Dubai who earned $21,000 for his owner, Donna Eaton. The winner of last year's 6-furlong, $100,000 Gold Rush Futurity at Arapahoe Park near Denver, Behold de Buy was a $3,700 purchase at the 2009 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, and his earnings total $96,378 from two wins in nine outs.

Special Kid was coming off of a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight victory at Santa Anita Park on February 3. The Florida-bred gelding by Lemon Drop Kid, who races for SAY Racing LLC, has won one of six races and has earned $61,880.