Angel of Empire Brings Momentum Into Arkansas Derby

Whereas there are a selection of horses entered within the $1.25 million Arkansas Derby (G1) April 1 at Oaklawn Park off spectacular efforts, Albaugh Household Stables’ Angel of Empire  is the one 3-year-old within the anticipated discipline of 11 to register a stakes victory in his earlier effort.

Whereas Angel of Empire is the fourth alternative on the morning-line at 9-2, he’ll deliver some momentum into Saturday’s 1 1/8-mile race after closing from ninth to win the Risen Star Stakes (G2) Feb. 18 at Truthful Grounds Race Course & Slots. The son of Traditional Empire   has proven regular enchancment in his Equibase Velocity Figures as he stretches out in distance and now returns to Oaklawn for a second race.

Skilled by Brad Cox, Angel of Empire completed second to Victory Formation  within the Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 1 at Oaklawn. That effort marked his stakes debut after successful two of three begins as a juvenile in 2022.

Pennsylvania-bred Angel of Empire continued to coach at Truthful Grounds after his Risen Star victory however his connections opted to skip the March 25 Louisiana Derby (G2) in favor of Saturday’s profitable Oaklawn check. As an alternative of racing within the Louisiana Derby Saturday, he as an alternative posted a five-furlong breeze in 1:01, third-fastest of 25 on the distance in his fourth transfer because the Risen Star.

Forward of the spring classics, the Arkansas Derby will usher in horses from a variety of totally different circuits for a check close to the center of the nation. The race will award Street to the Kentucky Derby qualifying factors to the highest 5 finishers (100-40-30-20-10), that are used to find out the sector in Louisville, Ky., on the primary Saturday in Might ought to greater than 20 horses enter.

The 5-2 morning-line favourite for the Arkansas Derby is SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, et. al.’s, Reincarnate , a son of Good Magic   who completed third within the race’s essential prep, the Feb. 25 Insurgent Stakes (G2). The Insurgent marked the primary race exterior of Southern California for Reincarnate, who additionally skilled an off-track for the primary time that day when he rallied from ninth early. 

After securing early place in one of many prime three spots in his 4 earlier races—main at first name in two of these occasions—Reincarnate was shuffled again early within the Insurgent whereas racing on the sloppy floor.

Reincarnate is considered one of a number of horses previously educated by Bob Baffert that has been transferred to coach Tim Yakteen as a way to be eligible to safe a spot within the Kentucky Derby. The Insurgent marked his first begin for Yakteen.

Whereas Insurgent winner Confidence Sport  sits this one out, runner-up Purple Route One  returns for owner-breeder Winchell Thoroughbreds and coach Steve Asmussen. The late-running son of Gun Runner   is listed at 3-1 on the morning-line after rallying from eleventh to complete 1 1/2 lengths in entrance of Reincarnate.

The sector additionally contains Rocket Can , who has wintered in South Florida for coach Invoice Mott. The son of Into Mischief   enters off a pair of Gulfstream Park begins, a win within the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) Feb. 4 and a runner-up end to champion 2-year-old male Forte  within the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) March 4. He is 4-1 on the morning-line.