Angel of Empire Wins Risen Star, Strengthens Cox’s Hand

The shot actually goes on.

One other Kentucky Derby (G1) prep.

One win and extra factors for certainly one of Coach Brad Cox’s 3-year-olds.

Including an exclamation level to a day that included his 2,000th victory, Cox notched his sixth prep victory with 5 totally different 3-year-olds from the Albaugh Household Stables. imperial angel Cox’s three longest priced horses within the race took the sixteenth spherical to seize the $400,000 Risen Star Stakes (G2) on February 18. Truthful Grounds Racetrack and Slots.

“Bodily it appears like it should run all day, which is what we have been considering since final summer time,” stated Cox, “a horse that may preserve coming regardless of how far they go. It labored nicely.”

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Rising Star raced the 1 1/8-mile distance, and Pennsylvania-raised Angel of Empire’s zest in long-distance working on Saturday bodes nicely for his possibilities on the $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2) on March 25. At 1 3/16 miles and 1 1/4 miles on the aforementioned Kentucky Derby.

At its earlier begin, the $70,000 buy from the Warrendale Gross sales consignment to the 2021 Keeneland Yearling Sale completed second within the Smarty Jones Stakes by three lengths from seventh place. Oaklawn Park going a mile edged by none aside from the undefeated on the time Order of Victory He is a Cox-trained stablemate who raced thirteenth publish huge on Saturday and completed ninth as a 9-5 favorite.

“(Angel of Empire) was working very well at Oaklawn Park and we knew he would love the gap. (Jockey Luis Saez) put him in an important place and kicked him within the lane-eighth, quarter-mile horse,” Cox stated.

Apart from the profitable first expertise in 9 furlongs, Cox was additionally happy that Saez and the 13-1 lengthy throw ($29.40) drove by way of a lumbering 14-horse course to win for the third time in 5 begins.

“One of many benefits of being on the Truthful Grounds is that there are huge pitches for these bets and (3-year-olds) get expertise with dust kicked within the face and might fend off late-closers. Cox, who gained 4 races on the Truthful Grounds on Saturday and one race at Oaklawn on Saturday. He gave him 2002 wins in his profession that began.

Photograph: Hodges Pictures / Lou Hodges Jr.

Angel of Empire’s connections, together with Coach Brad Cox (baseball cap), benefit from the trophy presentation for the Risen Star Stakes

Cox led 4 horses into the beginning 11 at Saturday’s Kentucky Derby Leaderboard. Traditional Empire He grew to become the primary individual to finish some extent together with his top win towards a 16-1 shot on the 6 Might Roses Run. Solar Thunder it earned him 50 elimination factors, elevating him to the highest of the Leaderboard with 54 factors total, and was all the time adequate to make it to the door on the primary Saturday of Might.

Cox additionally trains Gold Squares on the spot espresso The multi-order bets and prep winner who’s third on the leaderboard with 32 factors and is nicely positioned to assert a spot on the 20-horse Kentucky Derby course.

early chief with dedication He posted fast fractions of :23.34 and :47.50 on 9 fur-long routes, creating an ideal setup for the concealers as the highest 5 finishers had been seventh or worse after the opening quarter mile.

Patricia’s Hope and Phillip Sagan’s two Phils He was closest to the early tempo and moved as much as take a brief lead below Jareth Loveberry, who left the quarter publish. This benefit proved short-lived, nonetheless, as Sua Thunder handed alongside the rail and Angel of Empire handed by because the wire approached because it handed from the skin.

On the final yards, Angel of Empire, who was ninth early, hit tougher and beat Solar Thunder at 1:51.47 to complete $1 at $179.20.

“I used to be full by the point I bought to eighth three, and it simply saved going when it got here to regression,” Saez stated.

Solar Thunder, son of RT Racing Secure and Cypress Creek Equine into mischief Educated by Ken McPeek, he completed second by 1 3/4 lengths towards Two Phil’s. A Laborious Spun Colt was educated by Larry Rivelli, Two Phil’s was adopted below the wire by Cox educated. Tapit’s Conquest And Single Ruler .

The primary of seven preparations to present 50-20-15-10-5 factors to the highest 5 finishers, Solar Thunder is fourth on the Leaderboard with 24 factors, Two Phil’s is fifth with 23 factors, Tapit’s Conquest is 18th with 10 factors and Single Ruler is twenty eighth with 5 factors.

Cox is not only with the chief at Angel of Empire, whose day was educated by Forgotten Land Funding and the Black Diamond Equine, however Honoring and Serving mare Armony’s Angel can also be a six Triple Crown nominee among the many high 18.

Coach Steve Asmussen was hopeful of reaching his 10,000th victory on the Risen Star, however whore 7-1 fourth decide dropped to sixth place after main three lengthy distances left. This To defend Colt bought his first begin for Asmussen after he moved out of Bob Baffert’s barn.