Arkansas
Angel of Empire Wins 2023 Arkansas Derby Ahead of Triple Crown Season
AP Photograph/Devid Quinn
There’s successful, after which there’s obliterating the sphere. Angel of Empire did the latter on Saturday.
The horse, led by jockey Flavien Prat, received the Arkansas Derby with a panoramic transfer across the last flip and straightaway, blowing away the sphere to win at Oaklawn Park.
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Angel of Empire at 9/2 odds with jockey Flavien Prat take the 87th working of the Arkansas Derby (GI) <a href=”https://twitter.com/OaklawnRacing?ref_src=twsrcpercent5Etfw”>@OaklawnRacing</a> for coach <a href=”https://twitter.com/bradcoxracing?ref_src=twsrcpercent5Etfw”>@bradcoxracing</a>.<br><br>100 <a href=”https://twitter.com/KentuckyDerby?ref_src=twsrcpercent5Etfw”>@kentuckyderby</a> factors<a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/TwinSpiresReplay?src=hash&ref_src=twsrcpercent5Etfw”>#TwinSpiresReplay</a> <a href=”https://t.co/R2n5rHeEWm”>pic.twitter.com/R2n5rHeEWm</a>
And similar to that, Angel of Empire turned one of many favorites for the Kentucky Derby.
King Russell completed second, whereas Reincarnate took third. The race held an general $1.2 million purse, however the day belonged to Angel of Empire.
“He was in a very good place,” Angel of Empire coach Brad H. Cox stated of the horse’s robust end to TVG’s Joaquin Jaime. “They had been going, I believed, fast sufficient, and he was arrange in a pleasant spot. He wasn’t getting pressed, no stress. Flavien began selecting up on the half-mile. He might inform he had horse. I used to be very impressed with the run.”
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Go get your self a beer, <a href=”https://twitter.com/bradcoxracing?ref_src=twsrcpercent5Etfw”>@bradcoxracing</a>! 🍻😂 THREE wins on the day at <a href=”https://twitter.com/OaklawnRacing?ref_src=twsrcpercent5Etfw”>@OaklawnRacing</a> together with the Arkansas Derby and Fantasy Stakes! <a href=”https://twitter.com/MaggieWolfndale?ref_src=twsrcpercent5Etfw”>@MaggieWolfndale</a> <a href=”https://t.co/3nuEpokGth”>pic.twitter.com/3nuEpokGth</a>
“We have at all times thought he was a horse that might get to a mile-and-a-quarter, a mile-and-an-eighth. Clearly, he is completed that twice now,” Cox added. “He was by a sire [Classic Empire] that received this race, so I believe the longer, the higher.”
Cox is making a behavior of getting success at this race, as he skilled Cyberknife final yr to an Arkansas Derby victory.
Angel of Empire can also be making a behavior of successful, as he additionally received February’s Risen Star and has been triumphant twice on the Horseshoe Indianapolis. His worst end in six races has been sixth.
Look out, Churchill Downs—a contender is rising.