Two of trainer Brad Cox's four Kentucky Derby (G1) hopefuls–Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Angel of Empire and Gun Runner Stakes winner Jace's Road–continued their training toward the $3-million classic with easy half-mile moves Saturday morning at Churchill Downs.
When the track opened at 5:30 a.m. (ET), Albaugh Family Stables' Angel of Empire worked :48.20 alongside 3-year-old stablemate Tapit's Conquest. Two hours later, West Point Thoroughbreds and Albaugh Family Stables' Jace's Road posted the same time for his breeze on the outside of Victory Formation.
Angel of Empire, who will enter the Kentucky Derby following his 4¼-length victory in the Arkansas Derby, sported blinkers while working outside his stablemate through early fractions of :12.40 and :24.40. He galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.80, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols. Cox's exercise rider Edvin Vargas was aboard the Classic Empire colt for the move.
Angel of Empire has previously used blinkers for his workouts.
Two hours later, Vargas was back in the irons on Jace's Road, a Quality Road colt who worked in similar fractions as Angel of Empire.
“It was a solid morning with three weeks out from the Derby,” Cox said. “It's always an exciting time of year and we'll see what happens in 21 days.”
Following Jace's Road's work, Cox's other Derby contenders, Blue Grass (G1) runner-up Verifying and Wood Memorial (G2) runner-up Hit Show, galloped about 1½ miles. They are scheduled to work next Saturday.
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