Rebranded seeks third straight win in Sunland Park Handicap

Rebranded enters the $75,000 Sunland Park Handicap on Sunday fresh off a track-record performance. He is part of a six-horse field for the 1 1/8-mile race, which serves as one of the final stakes of the New Mexico meet that continues through Monday.

The Sunland Park Handicap is the conclusion of the track’s route series, and the strong collection of starters also includes multiple stakes-winning stalwarts Isn’t He Clever, Ol Winedrinker Who, and Proceed.

Rebranded defeated some of those rivals last out when he rolled to a two-length win in the $50,000 Curribot, a Feb. 28 race at Sunland in which he covered 1 1/16 miles in a track-record 1:40.64.

“We’re really excited about him,” said Justin Evans, who trains Rebranded for Tony Pennington. “He’s really come around, run to the potential we thought he had.”

The card also includes the $100,000 West Texas Futurity, a 300-yard race for 2-year-old Quarter Horses. The leading contenders include Pampered Jess, a 1 1/4-length debut winner during trials March 20.

KEY CONTENDERS

Rebranded (Last 3 Beyers: 95-92-90)

◗ He will be seeking his third straight win, following an optional $25,000 claiming race at a mile at Sunland on Jan. 25 and the Curribot.

“His last two races have been great,” said Evans. “We’ve taken blinkers off that horse since his 3-year-old season, and he came back and ran a great race first off the layoff. The other day was a breakthrough race, with the talent we always thought he had coming out.”

◗ Evans also credited Rebranded’s jockey, Ry Eikleberry, with a heads-up ride in the Curribot.

“We kind of wanted to play the break,” Evans said, noting that Rebranded broke a little sharper than formidable rival Isn’t He Clever, and Eikleberry went on with Rebranded.

◗ Rebranded will break from the rail Sunday under Eikleberry.

“If we get the jump on them, we’ll go,” Evans said. “If they get the jump on us, we’ll settle in and take back.”

◗ Rebranded will be moving to 1 1/8 miles, and Evans feels the additional distance will suit the horse, citing a supportive pedigree. Rebranded is by Tiznow and out of the A.P. Indy mare Bayou Breeze.

◗ Evans said Rebranded could be a candidate for next month’s Grade 3, $200,000 Lone Star Park Handicap.

Isn’t He Clever (Last 3 Beyers: 86-91-92)

◗ He should be razor-sharp off a runner-up finish in the $100,240 Bill Thomas Memorial at 6 1/2 furlongs in his most recent start March 22.

◗ Isn’t He Clever was a 9 1/2-length winner of last year’s Sunland Park Handicap.

Memorials for Jacky Martin

There are three upcoming memorial services for jockey Jacky Martin, according to his wife, Tracey Martin. Jacky Martin, a winner of a record seven runnings of the prestigious All American Futurity for Quarter Horses, died last Saturday.

The first service will be April 21. It is a night service at Faith Church in Glenpool, Okla. Another memorial at night will be May 11 at Remington Park in Oklahoma City. A third memorial will be held May 25 at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico.