Sunland Park: Rebranded returns in Mine That Bird Derby

Rebranded’s value went up earlier this week without him even lifting a hoof. The probable favorite for the $120,000 Mine That Bird Derby at Sunland Park on Saturday, he was part of a Saratoga maiden race that ended up producing the top two finishers in Monday’s Grade 3, $300,000 Southwest at Oaklawn Park.

“After they ran the Southwest the other day, his stock rose,” said Justin Evans, who trains Rebranded for owner Tony Pennington.

Rebranded is part of a 10-horse field for the Mine That Bird Derby, a 1 1/16-mile race that serves as a prep for the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby. The Mine That Bird Derby is named for the 2009 Kentucky Derby winner, who will lead the post parade Saturday.

Rebranded moved to New Mexico in November after being privately purchased by Pennington following a fourth-place finish in a maiden special weight at Aqueduct. In his local debut, Rebranded won his maiden in the $104,000 Riley Allison Futurity at Sunland on Dec. 22.

“What sold us on him was his first race,” Evans said of an Aug. 17 maiden special weight at Saratoga in which Rebranded finished third behind winner Strong Mandate and runner-up Tapiture.

Strong Mandate went on to win the Grade 1 Hopeful, while Tapiture closed his 2-year-old season with a win in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes. On Monday, Tapiture won the Southwest over Strong Mandate.

“The race the other day at Hot Springs, it really had us excited,” Evans said.

Evans added that Rebranded’s pedigree and physical attributes also made him an appealing purchase. The Tiznow colt rallied from off the pace in the Riley Allison for a two-length win over Lawly’s Goal, who is entered back in the Mine That Bird but also is cross-entered in the $75,000 Turf Paradise Derby on Saturday.

Rebranded showed a new dimension in the Riley Allison.

“His other races he’d been up on the lead,” Evans said. “Having [speed horse] Alsono in there, we did our best to try to ease him back. We thought it was the best race to try to take him back off the pace, and it worked well. He still ran a little green. When he hit the front, he pricked his ears and looked around.”

Rebranded has not raced since the Riley Allison, because a Sunland allowance prep did not fill and Evans said he didn’t want to ship the horse for a race. He has brought Rebranded into Saturday’s stakes off a series of five-furlong works at Sunland.

“Every work got little bit better, a little bit better,” Evans said. “We’re happy with where we’re at.”

Ry Eikleberry has the mount from the rail.

Evans also will send out Alsono, a two-time sprint stakes winner who will break from post 5. Alsono, who will be making a rare two-turn start, also races for Pennington.

“The good thing about Alsono is that he rates,” Evans said.