Rebranded much the best in Colorado Derby

Rebranded dominated the $40,000 Colorado Derby at Arapahoe Park on Sunday, when he rolled home by 12 1/2 lengths over Ima Happy Strike. It was another length back in third to Lookingoodinatux.

Rebranded ($2.60) dueled through an opening quarter in 23.43 seconds, and proceeded to separate himself from the field through fractions of 45.80 seconds for the opening half-mile and 1:10.37 for six furlongs. He covered 1 1/16 miles over a track rated good in 1:45.21.

Elvin Gonzalez was aboard the winner for trainer Justin Evans. Rebranded, a son of Tiznow who earlier in his career won his maiden in the $104,000 Riley Allison Futurity at Sunland Park, races for Tony Pennington.

Rebranded shipped in from New Mexico for the Colorado Derby. Evans sent him to town about 10 days ahead of the race to get a work in over the Arapahoe surface, and the horse drilled five furlongs in a bullet 58.40 seconds. Evans also made an adjustment to Rebranded’s equipment for the race, running him with peep holes in his blinkers.

Rebranded came into the Colorado Derby off an eighth-place finish in the Grade 3, $100,000 Affirmed at Santa Anita. Prior to that race, he had won an allowance and placed in a stakes in New Mexico. Rebranded was bred in Kentucky by Mount Brilliant Farm & Ranch LLC.