Represented by a trio of well-meant sophomores in Saturday's GII Risen Star S. at Fair Grounds–including the top two favorites–trainer Brad Cox's march to the first Saturday in May continued with an upset victory by the Albaugh Family Stable's Angel of Empire (Classic Empire).
Second by three lengths behind his re-opposing and favored stablemate Victory Formation (Tapwrit) in the one-mile Smarty Jones S. Jan. 1, Angel of Empire raced in a ground-saving eighth as the field of 14 rounded the clubhouse turn beneath the lights. The 13-1 chance began to make his move between runners as West Coast invader Harlocap (Justify) took on pacesetter Determinedly (Cairo Prince) as previously unbeaten and forwardly placed Victory Formation began to tire following testing early fractions of :23.34 and :47.50. Two Phil's (Hard Spun), last term's GIII Street Sense S. winner, took over briefly from the tiring front runners as they straightened with Angel of Empire and his other Cox-trained stablemate Tapit's Conquest (Tapit) beginning to roll down the center with longshot Sun Thunder (Into Mischief) making a move of his own along the fence. Angel of Empire had the best final kick of them all, however, and sealed the deal by a length over the 16-1 Sun Thunder. It was another 1 3/4 lengths back to Two Phil's in third.
Angel of Empire, a debut winner going a mile in the Indiana slop Aug. 9, was sixth second out over the Kentucky Downs lawn Sept. 8. Freshened, Angel of Empire returned a dominant winner in an Indiana allowance prior to his aforementioned runner-up performance in Hot Springs. The Risen Star was his first attempt beyond a mile. He earned 50 points for a new total of 54 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, putting him at the top of the leaderboard.
“Physically, it looks like he can run all day,” said Cox, who earlier in the program scored the 2,000th win of his career. “We could see that last summer when we got him ready to run. We started him a mile at Indiana and it worked out. We had a little pace to run at today and it worked out well. It's five weeks to the Louisiana Derby and we'll look at that, all the Grade 1s will be in the conversation. We'll let the dust settle and see how he comes out of it. This is a horse that we thought as the months go by he'll get better and he has.”
Pedigree Notes:
Angel of Empire made it four graded winners and two on the day for young sire Classic Empire. His dam Armony's Angel, a maiden of eight career starts, is also represented by the 2-year-old colt Third City (Collected) ($23,000 FTKJUL yearling purchase by Kenneth R. Kachel) and a yearling colt by Classic Empire. Armony's Angel, a half-sister to GSW Conquest Big E (Tapit), brought $67,000 from co-breeder Black Diamond Corp. carrying her first foal Angel of Empire at the 2019 KEENOV sale. Angel of Empire becomes the first stakes/graded winner for his broodmare sire To Honor and Serve.
Saturday, Fair Grounds
RISEN STAR S. PRESENTED BY LAMARQUE LINCOLN AND LAMARQUE CRESCENT CITY FORD-GII, $400,000, Fair Grounds, 2-18, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:51.47, ft.
1–ANGEL OF EMPIRE, 122, c, 3, by Classic Empire
1st Dam: Armony's Angel, by To Honor and Serve
2nd Dam: Seeinsbelieven, by Carson City
3rd Dam: Coragil, by Metfield
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($32,000
RNA Wlg '20 KEENOV; $70,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Albaugh
Family Stables LLC; B-Forgotten Land Investment Inc & Black
Diamond Equine Corp (PA); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Luis Saez.
$240,000. Lifetime Record: 5-3-1-0, $330,000. Werk Nick
Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Sun Thunder, 122, c, 3, Into Mischief–Greenfield d'Oro,
by Medaglia d'Oro. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK
TYPE. ($400,000 Wlg '20 FTKNOV; $495,000 RNA Ylg '21
FTSAUG). O-R.T Racing Stable & Cypress Creek Equine;
B-Southern Equine Stables, LLC (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek.
$80,000.
3–Two Phil's, 122, c, 3, Hard Spun–Mia Torri,
by General Quarters. ($150,000 RNA Ylg '21 KEESEP).
O-Patricia's Hope LLC & Phillip Sagan; B-Phillip Sagan (KY);
T-Larry Rivelli. $40,000.
Margins: 1, 1 3/4, HF. Odds: 13.70, 16.60, 5.70.
Also Ran: Tapit's Conquest, Single Ruler, Harlocap, Crupi, Curly Jack, Victory Formation, Shaq Diesel, Silver Heist, Private Creed, Quiet as Midnight, Determinedly.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
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