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From Modest Beginnings, Angel Of Empire Taking Albaugh Family Stables Back To Kentucky Derby

Angel of Empire sold for $70,000 as a yearling and made his first career start at Horseshoe Indianapolis. But that modest resume works for Jason Loutsch, who owns Angel of Empire with father-in-law Dennis Albaugh (Iowa-based Albaugh Family Stables).

“A lot of our horses, we like to start at Ellis Park or Indiana,” Loutsch said. “We don't really care about where we break our maiden. We're not flashy like that. Our goal is to make the Kentucky Derby. If we break it at Prairie Meadows, (Horseshoe Indianapolis), Keeneland, Ellis Park, we don't care.”

After winning his career debut at one mile Aug. 9 at Horseshoe Indianapolis, Angel of Empire is headed to the Kentucky Derby after steadily climbing the 3-year-old ranks the last five months, punctuated by a sparkling 4 ¼ length victory in the $1.25 million Arkansas Derby (G1) Saturday at Oaklawn.

Angel of Empire ($11.40) marked the second consecutive Arkansas Derby victory for trainer Brad Cox and the first for jockey Flavien Prat and Albaugh Family Stables. Albaugh has had three Kentucky Derby starters – Brody's Cause (seventh in 2016), J Boys Echo (15th in 2017) and Free Drop Billy (16th in 2008) – and campaigned several other promising young prospects in recent years, notably 2016 Breeders' Cup Juvenile runner-up Not This Time and Grade 3 winner Dennis' Moment.

Angel of Empire received a preliminary Beyer Speed Figure of 94, a career-high, for his victory in the 1 1/8-mile Arkansas Derby. Angel of Empire had previously won an entry-level allowance race at 1 mile Nov. 14 at Horseshoe Indianapolis, finished second in the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes at 1 mile Jan. 1 at Oaklawn and won the $400,000 Risen Star Stakes (G2) at 1 1/8 miles Feb. 18 at Fair Grounds. The Smarty Jones, Oaklawn's first Kentucky Derby points race, is Angel of Empire's only loss in five career starts around two turns.

“Brad has done a tremendous job in developing this horse,” Loutsch, a Des Moines, Iowa, homebuilder, said outside Oaklawn's Mainline Sports Bar about an hour after Angel of Empire's Arkansas Derby victory. “He ran really good at Indiana. Gave him a shot at the Smarty Jones and he ran great. Galloped out huge and we thought, 'Wow! We might have something.' We know he wants a mile and an eighth. After today, I know he wants a mile and a quarter. I think he can get the distance. We couldn't be more excited.”

Albaugh Family Stables bred Not This Time, who was retired shortly after his runner-up to Classic Empire in the 2016 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) because of a leg injury, and purchased J Boys Echo ($485,00), Dennis' Moment ($400,000) Brody's Cause ($350,000), Free Drop Billy ($200,000) at high-end yearling sales. Angel of Empire has already earned $1,069,375 after bringing just $70,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Loutsch said he selected Angel of Empire, a son of champion and 2017 Arkansas Derby winner Classic Empire.

“Pennsylvania-bred, $70,000,” Loutsch said. “We've spent a lot of money in books 1 and 2. And to buy a horse in book 5, Pennsylvania-bred, and going to the Kentucky Derby as probably one of the top five favorites is a great story. I just liked the pedigree. I'm so happy for Classic Empire. It's a funny story. We owned Not This Time and Classic Empire beat us (by a neck) in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and now he's paying us back.”

Angel of Empire is one of three horses Albaugh Family Stables could have in the 1 ¼-mile Kentucky Derby May 6 at Churchill Downs. It also co-owns Jace's Road and Cyclone Mischief (each with 45 qualifying points) to rank 14th and 15th, respectively, on the latest Kentucky Derby leaderboard released by Churchill Downs. Angel of Empire (154) is No. 2. The Kentucky Derby is limited to 20 starters, with starting preference given to the 18 horses with the highest point totals collected in designated races like the Arkansas Derby. Invitations are also extended to the top point earners on the Europe and Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby. Angel of Empire arrived early Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs to begin preparations for the Kentucky Derby.

“Dream come true,” Loutsch said.

Angel of Empire and Jace's Road, who ran fifth in the $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) Jan. 28 at Oaklawn, are among three horses Albaugh Family Stables has with Cox, Loutsch said. Albaugh Family Stables also employs Dale Romans (trainer of Cyclone Mischief) and Kelly Von Hemel, who races primarily at Oaklawn and Prairie Meadows in Iowa.

Von Hemel trained multiple stakes winner Miss Macy Sue, the dam of Not This Time, for Dennis Albaugh. Miss Macy's Sue's 11 career victories included the $50,000 Carousel for female sprinters in 2007 at Oaklawn.

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Tapit Trice Will Have To Prove His Mettle From The Rail In 11-Strong Blue Grass Stakes

Whisper Hill Farm and Gainesway Stable's Tapit Trice is the 5-2 morning line choice in a field of 11 3-year-olds entered Wednesday for Saturday's 99th running of the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass (G1) going 1 1/8 miles on the main track.

A major test for 3-year-olds and a steppingstone for the $3 million Kentucky Derby (G1) Presented by Woodford Reserve to be run May 6 at Churchill Downs, the Toyota Blue Grass offers 200 points toward qualification to this year's Derby on a 100-40-30-20-10 scale to the first- through fifth-place finishers. The Derby is limited to the top 20 point earners and invitees that pass the entry box.

The Toyota Blue Grass will go as the ninth race on Saturday's 11-race program with a 5:15 p.m. ET post time. First post time for the card that features five graded stakes is 12:30 p.m.

Trained by three-time Toyota Blue Grass winner Todd Pletcher, Tapit Trice brings a three-race win streak into Saturday's race highlighted by a 2-length victory as the 1-2 favorite in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) on March 11.

Luis Saez, a Toyota Blue Grass winner with Brody's Cause in 2016 and Essential Quality in 2021, has the mount on Tapit Trice and will break from post position one.

“Not exactly the draw we wanted, but he did win the allowance race at Gulfstream Park from post one,” said Pletcher.

Pletcher's Toyota Blue Grass winners are Bandini (2005), Monba (2008) and Carpe Diem (2015).

The second choice on the morning line set by Nick Tammaro at 3-1 is Westerberg Limited, Mrs. John Magnier, Jonathan Poulin, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor's Verifying.

Trained by Brad Cox, who won this race in 2021 with Essential Quality, Verifying is a winner of two of five starts and finished second to Blazing Sevens in the Champagne (G1). In his most recent start, Verifying was fourth in the Rebel (G2) that was run over a sloppy track at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 25.

Tyler Gaffalione has the mount on Verifying and will break from post position three.

Andrew and Rania Warren's Gotham (G3) winner Raise Cain is the third choice on the morning line at 9-2.

Trained by Ben Colebrook, Raise Cain won the Gotham by 7½ lengths in what was his graded stakes debut. Raise Cain, a maiden winner here last fall, was third in the Bowman Mill here and then runner-up in the Gun Runner at Fair Grounds to close his 2022 campaign.

Joel Rosario, who won the Toyota Blue Grass in 2011 on Brilliant Speed has the mount on Raise Cain and will break from post 10.

Colebrook will send out a second runner for the Warrens in Scoobie Quando (15-1). Scoobie Quando was runner-up in the John Battaglia Memorial (L) at Turfway Park on March 4 in his most recent start.

Luan Machado has the mount on Scoobie Quando and will exit post position six.

“No problem for both with the posts,” Colebrook said. “Joel will take Raise Cain back and follow them around. “Scoobie Quando is fine, right in the middle. Did not want to the one or two for him.”

The fourth choice at 6-1 on the morning line is Rodeo Creek Racing's Blazing Sevens.

Trained by Chad Brown, who won the Toyota Blue Grass last year with Zandon, Blazing Sevens won the Champagne last fall and completed his 2022 campaign with a fourth-place finish in the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance here.

Blazing Sevens finished eighth in the Fountain of Youth (G2) in his lone 2022 start. Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount Saturday and will break from post position eight.

Brown, who also won the Toyota Blue Grass in 2018 with Good Magic, is seeking to become the fourth trainer to win the race in consecutive years and the first since LeRoy Jolley in 1976-1977.

In addition to Pletcher, Brown and Cox, two other trainers will be seeking to add to their Toyota Blue Grass victory totals.

Kenny McPeek, who won the race in 2002 with Harlan's Holiday and in 2013 with Java's War, will send out three runners.

Leading the McPeek contingent is R.T. Racing Stable and Cypress Creek Equine's Sun Thunder (10-1) enters Saturday's race off a fifth-place finish in the March 25 Twinspires Louisiana Derby (G2). Prior to that effort, Sun Thunder finished second in the Risen Star presented by Lamarque Lincoln and Lamarque Crescent City Ford (G2).

Florent Geroux has the mount on Sun Thunder and will break from post position seven.

“His last race (when he was fifth in the Louisiana Derby-G2 on March 25) was a paceless race, and he really didn't get to run until the last part,” said McPeek. “He seems none the worse for wear, and the partnership is keen to try him again.”

McPeek also will send out Dixiana Farms' homebred Hayes Strike (15-1). Two-time graded-stakes placed, Hayes Strike enters Saturday's race off a victory in the Private Terms at Laurel on March 18. James Graham has the mount and will break from post position five.

“He got back in form in his last start,” McPeek said. “It is a tough spot for him, but he is doing well and deserves a chance. He is a 1 1/8-mile-type horse, and I felt the Blue Grass is a better spot for him than the Stonestreet Lexington-G3 (on April 15) that I won with his half-brother Senior Investment in 2017.”

McPeek's third entrant is Harold Lerner, AWC Stables, Nehoc Stables and Team Stallion's Mendelssohns March (20-1), who will be making his stakes debut. Undefeated in two starts, Mendelssohns March will break from post position 11 and be ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr., who won this race in 2020 with Art Collector.

“It is a long way around there, so he ought to be fine (coming out of the far outside post),” said McPeek. “I know we are throwing him into the deep end, but he is very talented and seems to be a horse that can handle it.”

Two-time Toyota Blue Grass winner D. Wayne Lukas will saddle Major Blue (30-1) for his wife Laurie and Bob and Ann Ghent. A two-time winner last month at Oaklawn Park, Major Blue will be ridden by David Cabrera and break from post position nine.

One other rider will be seeking to add to his win total in the race: Javier Castellano, who won the 2019 edition of the Toyota Blue Grass on Vekoma. He has the call Saturday on Gary Barber's Classic Car Wash (12-1).

Trained by Mark Casse, Classic Car Wash was runner-up to Tapit Trice in the Tampa Bay Derby and prior to that third in the Sam F. Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs. Classic Car Wash will break from post four.

The field for the Toyota Blue Grass, with riders and morning line odds from the rail out, is:

Tapit Trice (Saez, 5-2),
Clear the Air (Ricardo Santana Jr., 30-1),
Verifying (Gaffalione, 3-1),
Classic Car Wash (Castellano, 12-1),
Hayes Strike (Graham, 15-1),
Scoobie Quando (Machado, 15-1),
Sun Thunder (Geroux, 10-1),
Blazing Sevens (Ortiz Jr., 6-1),
Major Blue (Cabrera, 30-1),
Raise Cain (Rosario, 9-2),
Mendelssohns March (Hernandez Jr., 20-1).

All starters will carry 123 pounds.

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No Decision Yet: Sunland Derby Winner Wild On Ice To Breeze Friday, May Fly To Louisville Sunday

There's a flight from New Mexico to Kentucky on Sunday, April 9. Trainer Joel Marr told the Daily Racing Form on Tuesday that he and owner/breeder Frank Sumpter have yet to decide whether their Sunland Derby upsetter Wild On Ice will be on that flight.

“He's doing well,” Marr told DRF. “We're planning on a little breeze on Friday. We're going to determine what's going on after that. We have a possible flight on Sunday, so we'll just see how it goes and how he comes back.”

The son of Tapizar won the G3 Sunland Derby by 1 1/4 lengths at odds of 35-1, earning 50 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. That total places Wild On Ice tenth on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard, and a late nomination fee of $6,000 was paid by the March 27 deadline to make Wild On Ice eligible for the Triple Crown.

Wild On Ice is out of the winning Grand Slam mare Slamitagain, from the family of Florida Derby winner Vicar.

That Sunday flight will have Sunland Park Oaks winner Flying Connection on board. Trained by Todd Fincher, the Nyquist filly has won four of her seven lifetime starts for earnings of $294,700.

‘We’re Not Ruling Anything Out’: Arkansas Derby Fourth Rocket Can Still Under Consideration For Kentucky Derby

Fourth as the favorite in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby, Frank Fletcher's Rocket Can may yet prove himself worthy of a start in the Run for the Roses. The 3-year-old son of Into Mischief remains under consideration for the Kentucky Derby, trainer Bill Mott told the Daily Racing Form on Tuesday.

Rocket Can will ship to Churchill Downs with the rest of Mott's string late Tuesday night, but the trainer emphasized that shipping to Louisville doesn't mean a decision has been made about the Derby.

“We're not ruling anything out,” Mott told DRF. “We'll see how he comes back and how he does and we'll go from there. We have a stable there, anyways, so he's going to train there this month. If he continues to do real well and we're excited about the way he's training, we'll point him in the direction of the Kentucky Derby.”

With 60 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard, currently ranking seventh, Mott believes Rocket Can “probably” has enough points to make the main body of the field.

Prior to the Arkansas Derby, Rocket Can won the G3 Holy Bull Stakes and finished second to champion Forte in the G2 Fountain of Youth. Rocket Can was bred in Kentucky by Woodford Thoroughbreds out of the placed Tapit mare Tension, herself out of the multiple Grade 1-winning Tiznow mare Tough Tiz's Sis.