Captain Force, under jockey Edwuin Lujan, drives to victory in Saturday's 63,364 Rocky Mountain Derby at Arapahoe Park.

© Coady Photography

AURORA, CO—JUNE 16, 2018—Kentucky-bred Captain Force, the fastest qualifier from five trials, came back to win the $63,364 Rocky Mountain Derby on Saturday at Arapahoe Park.

Edwuin Lujan and the son of Captain Courage came home in 17.820 and earned a speed index of 88 for the 350-yard final.

The derby win, his second in a stakes race, came just one day before the anniversary of his maiden-breaking debut at Arapahoe.

Captain Force ($3.60) is undefeated in two starts in 2018 and is four for seven lifetime with over $112,000 in career earnings. As a 2-year-old, he won the $282,552 Black Gold 440 Futurity (G3) at Will Rogers at 18-1; bettors had to settle for a smaller return on the post-time favorite in Saturday’s stake.

The winning connections of Captain Force accept the Rocky Mountain Derby stakes trophy on Saturday at Arapahoe Park. © Coady Photography

Captain Force is owned by Pedro Andazola and is trained by Hipolito Michel-Valverde. He was bred by Gentry Farms, out of Deelish, by First Down Dash. Deelish is a multiple stakes winning mare with over $600,000 in career earnings. Her accomplishments included wins in the Dash for Cash Futurity (G1) at Lone Star and the Go Man Go (G1) at Los Alamitos; she was also second in the Champion of Champions (G1) in 2000.

Dominate This was the second fastest qualifier after finishing second to Captain Force in their trial. He returned to finish a half-length behind him again in the final.

Mark Jasso rode the Dominyun gelding for owner Angel Villalobos-Hernandez and trainer Lorenzo Campuzano. He was bred in Oklahoma by Brenda Reiswig, out of the Valiant Hero mare Valiant Red Vixen.

Dominate This is a multiple stakes-placed gelding, including a second-place finish in the West Texas Derby (G3) at Sunland Park. He has four wins and five seconds from 12 starts and has earned $78,874 to date.

Dg Tempter won his trial in his first start of 2018 and was the fourth fastest qualifier. He finished third in the Rocky Mountain Derby, a half-length behind Dominate This. He also placed fourth in the same Black Gold Futurity that was won by Captain Force.

Dg Tempter is a Colorado-bred gelding by Tempting Dash, out of the Bully Bullion mare Dg Miss Daisy. Jose Alvarez had the call for trainer Hipolito Michel-Valverde and owner D/G Ranch, LLC; he was bred by Richard and Genevieve Herrman.

Completing the field were Shinning Bianca, Just Chic It, Thorium, Dee Favorite Girl, Mighty Men of Valor and Bringonthewave, who finished in fourth place but was placed last via disqualification. Icy Devon was scratched.