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It was quite the late birthday celebration for trainer Brad Cox, who, two days after turning 43, saddled three stakes winners Saturday at Oaklawn, including Angel of Empire in the $1.25-million Arkansas Derby (G1), a result that stamped the colt one of the Kentucky Derby (G1) favorites.

Cox, honored with an Eclipse Award as the country's outstanding trainer in 2020 and 2021, also won the $600,000 Fantasy Stakes (G3) for 3-year-old fillies with heavily favored Wet Paint and the $200,000 Hot Springs Stakes for 3-year-olds with Eyeing Clover.

“It was a great day,” Cox said during training hours Sunday morning at Oaklawn. “It was good. Big performance from that colt yesterday, Angel of Empire. We'll load him on Tuesday and ship to Kentucky and see what we can come up with.”

Ridden for the first time by Flavien Prat, Angel of Empire ($11.40) powered to a 4 ¼-length victory over King Russell before an estimated crowd of 65,000. A son of champion and 2017 Arkansas Derby winner Classic Empire, Angel of Empire covered 1 1/8 miles over a fast track in 1:49.68 to generate a preliminary Equibase Speed rating of 106, a career high.

Angel of Empire's ascending Equibase Speed ratings mirror his development the last five months. He had won an entry-level allowance race at one mile Nov. 14 at Horseshoe Indianapolis, finished second in the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes at one mile Jan. 1 at Oaklawn and won the Risen Star Stakes (G2) at 1 1/8 miles Feb. 18 at Fair Grounds before a dominating performance Saturday.

“I've said it several times,” Cox said. “He's a horse we thought would get better with time and, obviously, age as well. And you know, he's obviously gotten better throughout the winter and he looks amazing. I think distance is probably an equalizer. He's not blessed with a tremendous amount of speed. He just kind of breaks. And he's not void of speed, but he kind of finds his way and they get away from him a little bit. But he settles. He's a very smart horse. Probably the biggest thing with him. Pretty big crowd here. There was a lot of noise in the paddock. Stands there and really presented himself well yesterday in the paddock and in the infield when we legged the riders up. He was on his toes, but he wasn't hot at all. He was feeling good. You could tell he was ready to run. Loved how he was acting mentally.”

Seventh after a half-mile, Angel of Empire cruised toward the front with a four-wide bid on the second turn and seized command in the upper stretch. The margin, 2 ½ lengths in midstretch, ballooned in the run to the wire.

“Even in the gallop out, they weren't close to him,” Cox said. “Flavien had never sat on him and he came back said, 'Wow! This horse, the further, the better.' ”

Angel of Empire collected 100 Kentucky Derby qualifying points for his Arkansas Derby victory, which pushed his overall total to 154 (No. 2 on official rankings released Saturday night by Churchill Downs). The 1 ¼-mile Kentucky Derby, May 6 at Churchill Downs, is limited to 20 starters.

Angel of Empire has had five jockeys in his six-race career, including Florent Geroux in an allowance turf sprint last fall at Kentucky Downs, Joe Talamo in the Smarty Jones, and Luis Saez in the Risen Star. Cox said he doesn't have a commitment for the Kentucky Derby.

“They'll sort themselves out over the next several weeks, between the Blue Grass, Wood, and Santa Anita Derby,” Cox said. “We'll see what happens.”

Angel of Empire, a $70,000 Keeneland September yearling Sale purchase from consignor Warrendale Sales, races for Iowa-based Albaugh Family Stables LLC (Jason Loutsch). Angel of Empire surpassed $1-million in career earnings with the Arkansas Derby victory, his fourth overall from six starts and has banked $1,069,375.

The Arkansas Derby marked Cox's fifth victory in Oaklawn's last 12 Kentucky Derby points races. He also won the Arkansas Derby last year with Cyberknife.

Cox also notched his second career victory in the 1 1/16-mile Fantasy with Wet Paint, a homebred daughter of Blame who races for her breeder, Godolphin LLC.

Wet Paint, last of 10 early, rolled to a 2 ½ length victory over Taxed to become only the second horse to sweep what are now Oaklawn's three Kentucky Oaks (G1) points races. Wet Paint, the 3-5 favorite under Prat, also won the Martha Washington Stakes at 1 1/16 miles Jan. 28 and the Honeybee Stakes (G3) at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 25. Eight Belles won the Martha Washington (second division), Honeybee, and Fantasy in 2008.

Wet Paint is perfect in career four starts around two turns. But the first three victories, including the Martha Washington and Honeybee, were over off tracks. Wet Paint ($3.20) raced over a fast track Saturday.

“Listen, we don't know until we try,” Cox said. “We didn't know until we ran yesterday. But her works here have been awfully good on dry tracks, so I felt pretty confident we'd get a big run from her as long as we got pace to run at. We got it.”

Wet Paint's winning time was 1:44.08. She will carry a 4-1-0 mark from six lifetime starts into the $1.25-million Kentucky Oaks (G1) May 5 at Churchill Downs. The 1 1/8-mile Kentucky Oaks is the country's biggest race for 3-year-old fillies. Wet Paint has earned $689,000 and tops the Kentucky Oaks Leaderboard with 170 points, including 100 for her Fantasy victory.

“She's definitely one of the top fillies in the country,” Cox said.

Cox said next-race plans are pending for Ten Strike Racing's Eyeing Clover, who, in his two-turn debut, rebounded from a fourth-place finish in the Gotham Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds at 1 mile March 4 at Aqueduct. Eyeing Clover, under Geroux, was a one-length winner over favored Gun Pilot in the one-mile Hot Springs. Eyeing Clover ($5.60) was racing without blinkers for the first time in his four-race career.

“I don't really know what to make of the race,” Cox said. “It was a short field. He had a little bit of a rough run in the first turn and boxed in up the backside, but Florent did a good job of getting him out and getting him to respond. He stayed on. I don't really know if it's something that we're wanting to build off of and go further around two turns or cut him back. We'll talk to the Ten Strike Group and come up with a plan shortly.”

Eyeing Clover's winning time over a fast track was 1:39.45. Eyeing Clover's third career victory increased his earnings to $230,650. A $55,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, Eyeing Clover won his Dec. 31 career debut at Oaklawn.

Saturday's triple pushed Cox's career Oaklawn victory total to 285, including 20 this season. Cox entered Sunday with 36 career stakes victories at Oaklawn, with a single-season career high eight coming at the 2022-2023 meeting.

The post ‘It Was A Great Day’: Angel of Empire’s Arkansas Derby Win Caps Cox’s Big Day At Oaklawn appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Following Saturday's closure of the 49-day Winter/Spring Meet at Turfway Park, jockey Walter Rodriguez, trainer Wesley Ward, and owner Roy Jackson's Lael Stables were awarded with respective meet-leading titles.

Rodriguez, a five-pound apprentice, burst onto the Turfway scene in December and quickly found himself riding for some of the top connections on the backside. Represented by Cliff Collier, Rodriguez tallied 48 victories from 250 starts. Some of his most notable wins this meet were aboard Ocean Atlantique in the $125,000 Dust Commander Stakes and Opening Buzz, who was victorious in the $125,000 Wishing Well Stakes.

Collier's other rider, 2022 Winter/Spring Meet champion Gerardo Corrales, was second in the standings with 45 victories. He was followed by Fernando De La Cruz (35 wins), Luan Machado (35) and Joe Ramos (26).

Ward's 22 victories at the meet were seven more than Paulo Lobo and Bill Morey's 15.

Among Ward's biggest victories at the meet were from his trainees Eye Witness in the $250,000 Animal Kingdom Stakes, Sunday Shoes in the $125,000 Serena's Song, and Funtastic Again in the $125,000 Leonatus Stakes. Trainers Brad Cox and Mike Maker finished in a tie for fourth with 14 wins.

The race for leading owner came down to the final night at Turfway Park, and with Sunday Shoe's victory in the Serena's Song Stakes, Lael Stables moved into a three-way tie with Three Diamonds Farm and Wesley Ward for leading owner with six wins. Lael Stables won the tiebreaker with the most earnings of the three: $341,365.

The post Rodriguez, Ward Secure Turfway Winter/Spring Meet Titles appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Riley Mott, son of Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, will try to win the first stakes race of his fledgling career Sunday at Oaklawn Park.

Mott, 31, who went out on his own Nov. 1, will saddle Mystic Night for Oaklawn owner Louis Cella in Sunday's $150,000 Temperence Hill Stakes for older horses at 1 ½ miles. Mystic Night (12-1 on the morning line) will mark Mott's third career stakes starter. The 6-year-old Into Mischief gelding enters off a fourth-place finish in a March 18 allowance race at Oaklawn going 1 1/16 miles.

“Every time we've run him, the jock has come back and said, 'Man, this horse needs more ground,'” Mott said. “I think we've run him three times here already. I'm not necessarily one that wants to wheel them back super quick, but he's a big, strapping horse that kind of takes to training really well and came out of the last one in good shape.”

Mystic Night is one of two horses Mott purchased for Cella at Keeneland's November Horses of Racing Age Sale. Mystic Night (a $120,000 buy) finished seventh and fourth in his first two starts at the meeting for Mott, who recorded his first career victory Nov. 10 at Churchill Downs with Unifying. After a slow start, Mott, through Friday, had added five victories at the 2022-2023 Oaklawn meeting and finished second with Unifying in the Year's End Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at one mile Dec. 31. Mott has managed roughly 20 horses this season at Oaklawn.

“I think a lot of it was I just kind of scrapped together whatever horses people were willing to send me, whether they, at the end of the day, fit at Oaklawn or not,” Mott said. “That's up for someone's determination. But we came here with some nice horses that did fit and we've won some nice races. We've won five, but four of them $100,000 purses. So, I think in the first three or four months of my career I'm pleased with that, without getting too greedy.”

Traverse, a homebred for famed Claiborne Farm, has emerged as the star of Mott's stable, finishing fourth in the Pippin Stakes for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles Jan. 7 before scoring sharp allowance victories Feb. 12 and March 17. Mott said Traverse is pointing for the $300,000 Doubledogdare Stakes (G3) for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles April 21 at Keeneland.

“She's obviously had a good season here at Oaklawn,” Mott said. “Obviously, a lot of horses don't really hit their stride until after their 3-year-old year, so it's nice for her to do well here at Oaklawn. Been cool for me because, just obviously starting out, to have a nice horse for Claiborne competing in those nice races.”

Mott said Claiborne is scheduled to send him some 2-year-olds this spring in Kentucky, where the trainer will be based. Oaklawn closes May 6.

“I'm going to definitely leave some horses here for the end of the meet,” Mott said. “We're going to be doubling in size with the 2-year-olds coming in. We should have a pretty busy spring.”

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There are very few, if any, athletes still at the top of their game at the age of 58, but veteran jockey Stewart Elliott has shown, year after year, that age is just a number.

On Friday, March 31, the Canadian-born rider returned to the winner's circle aboard Meant For Me, clinching his 5,500th career win. Elliott guided the 5-year-old Kentucky-bred from off the pace in the five-furlong turf sprint for Hoffman Family Racing and trainer H. B. Johnson at Sam Houston Race Park. It marked the 49th win of the 2023 Thoroughbred meet for Elliott, which will wrap on April 8. Currently 12 wins ahead of Ernesto Valdez-Jiminez, Elliott looks fairly certain to capture his third title at the northwest Houston racetrack.

While the majority of racing fans know Elliott for his victory aboard 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Smarty Jones. He has always been very modest in discussing winning the most heralded race in the United States. That's Stewart; he has ridden over 34,555 Thoroughbreds in the past four decades, but is never one to brag or give the lion's share of attention to Smarty Jones or other exceptional graded stakes winners Round Pond, Talkin About Love or Rockport Harbor. He loves doing what he does and was not even aware he was approaching the milestone until his 16-year-old son Christopher pointed it out!

For the past three years, Elliott has ridden first call for Hall of Fame conditioner Asmussen at Sam Houston Race Park then Lone Star Park before finishing the last four months at Remington Park.

“I really enjoy that schedule,” stated Elliott. “I'm riding first call for Steve, who always has his horses in the right spots and I have picked up some nice mounts for other trainers. It's been great to work with Mindy Willis who is amazing with her runners.”

Sunlit Song is one of the quality Texas-breds that Elliott has enjoyed riding. The handsome gray turf specialist, bred and owned by Carolyn Barnett, picked up his second stakes of the Houston meet., winning the $100,000 Richard King on Texas Champions Day.

“Mindy brought him back this year in top form,” said Elliott. “I am just a passenger; he makes it look so easy.”

Elliott also guided Texas Thoroughbred Association (TTA) Direct Dial to his two stakes before the W.S. Farish homebred by Too Much Bling was retired.

“He was a true warrior and so professional,” said Elliott. “What was so cool about him was how much he loved his job. When a horse has the desire and tries every time, it impresses me. That's all you can ask for, no matter what level.”

Last month, Elliott had plenty of mounts for Asmussen when he was in his prolonged pursuit for his 10,000th win. Elliott tried not to feel the pressure, but had several seconds and thirds as the countdown heated up.

“I really wanted to do it for Steve,” Elliott acknowledged. “We had a lot of great chances, as did all of his riders. Toward the end, it felt like we had an anchor weighing us down, but I was happy for him when he got that incredible milestone!”

Asmussen does not hesitate when he praises the professionalism of Elliott.

“He's a great horseman, who has had a tremendous amount of success,” he said. “We are fortunate to have him ride for us. What cannot be overstated about Stewart is his consistency.”

Elliott has an excellent relationship with his agent, Scott Hare and the support of his wife, Lilibeth. Their son Christopher, who will turn 17 in April, is hoping to pursue a career as a jockey and has the approval of his dad.

“Christopher has worked a few horses in the morning for Sarah Davidson,” said Elliott. “Darren Fleming, who runs the Lone Star stable for Steve, is going to help him out this summer.”

Elliott and his family will have a few weeks off between the Sam Houston and Lone Star meets. As long as he can do a little fishing or make a trip to their farm near Bowling Green, Elliott will be refreshed and ready to go.

“I've been lucky that I have been able to keep my weight down and fortunate to have had few injuries throughout my career,” he added. “Life is good!”

Martha Claussen has been involved in the Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse industry since 1997 as a publicist, writer and handicapper.

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