IT was a momentous weekend for two of America’s current top trainers. On a day that also featured his 2,000th career victory, Brad Cox notched his sixth win in the early Kentucky Derby trials with a fifth different three-year-old as Angel Of Empire, the outsider of Cox’s three horses in the race, took charge in the final half furlong to capture the $400,000 Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes on Saturday at Fair Grounds.
Angel Of Empire, a son of the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and Grade 1 Arkansas Derby winner Classic Empire, went to the head of the current Derby leaderboard list where Cox also has six Triple Crown candidates among the top 18.
Trainer Steve Asmussen was hopeful of collecting his 10,000th victory in the Risen Star, but Harlocap faded to sixth. However, the landmark win then came on Monday when when Bet He’s Ready won the fifth race at Oaklawn Park.
The nine-furlong Risen Star had a large field of 14. Angel Of Empire was edged last time out by the then unbeaten Victory Formation, a Cox stablemate who on Saturday raced wide from post 13 and finished ninth as the 9/5 favourite.
But the Pennsylvania-bred Angel Of Empire displayed stamina in the long stretch run, boding well for his chances in Louisiana Derby and Kentucky Derby.
“Physically he looks like he will run all day, which is what we have been thinking since last summer,” Cox said “He’s a horse that the farther they go, he’ll keep coming. He had some pace to run into and it worked out well. He’s a mile-and-an-eighth, mile-and-a-quarter horse.”
This win netted Angel Of Empire, owned by Albaugh Family Stables, 50 qualifying points, putting him top the Deeby leaderboard with 54 points. That total has always been good enough to make the line up on the first Saturday in May. Cox also trains Instant Coffee, a graded stakes winner who is third on the leaderboard with 32 points.
On Saturday, the early leader Determinedly posted quick fractions of 23.34secs and 47.50secs but in the final furlong, Angel Of Empire, who was ninth early on, had the stronger kick than Sun Thunder to win in 1m 51.47secs.
Sun Thunder trained by Ken McPeek, was second by near two lengths from Two Phil’s. Sun Thunder moved into fourth on the leaderboard with 24 points.
The fillies Oaks trial on the card, the Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra Stakes, was expected to go to the Tom Amoss-trained Hoosier Philly but it was anther daughter of Into Mischief who put herself into contention for Kentucky. Brendan Walsh sent Godolphin home-bred Pretty Mischievous out for a three-quarter-of-a-length success.
Dettori
Frankie Dettori’s Santa Anita sojourn continues to go successfully and he rode a four-timer on the Friday week card. Dirt winners on Piroli, Harper’s Gallop, Teddy’s Barino built up to a stakes race success in the Wishing Well Stakes on Freedom Flyer for trainer Leonard Powell.
Asmussen hits a magic mark
STEVE Asmussen, already North America’s winningmost trainer, reached a magic 10,000 winner total as a trainer on Monday when when Bet He’s Ready won the fifth race at Oaklawn Park.
The 57-year-old Texan recorded his first victory in 1986 at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico with Victory’s Halo.
Asmussen’s horses have made in excess of $405 million in North America, trailing only Todd Pletcher with $452 million. The best horses to pass through his barn include four Horses of the Year in Curlin (twice), Rachel Alexandra and Gun Runner.
The Kentucky Derby is one of the few races that has eluded him. He came close to winning in 2022 when Epicenter was caught in the closing strides by late-running longshot Rich Strike.