Angel of Empire Shines in Arkansas Derby Victory

April 1st, 2023 by Bob Ehalt

Content provided by BloodHorse

Angel of Empire, Arkansas Derby, Oaklawn Park, Brad Cox, Kentucky Derby, Flavien Prat

Angel of Empire zooms past the crowd at Oaklawn Park to win the 2023 Arkansas Derby. (Coady Photography)

For the connections of a vast majority of 3-year-olds, it's the mile-and-a-quarter distance of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve that causes palpitations. But for Angel of Empire, it is the more the merrier.

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Living up to the faith trainer Brad Cox and his owners had in the son of Classic Empire's stamina, Albaugh Family Stables' Angel of Empire took charge at the top of the stretch and drew away to post a 4 1/4-length victory in the $1.25 million Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on April 1 at Oaklawn Park. He cemented his role as one of the top choices for the May 6 run for the roses at Churchill Downs.

"It was a big run," Cox said after winning the Arkansas Derby for a second straight year after his initial success with Cyberknife in 2022. "We always saw him as a mile-and-a-quarter, mile-and-an-eighth horse, and now he's won twice at a mile-and-an-eighth. His sire won this race and I think he'll do better with more distance."

Though the 1 1/8-mile Arkansas Derby offered 100-40-30-20-10 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby, that did not matter to the Pennsylvania-bred Angel of Empire. He had already secured a spot in the Derby field by winning the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Lincoln and Lamarque Crescent City Ford in his last start and finishing second in the Smarty Jones Stakes to give him 54 points before Saturday's stakes.

Beyond the 100 points he earned, it was the way he rallied from seventh and drew off with gusto in the stretch, well ahead of 58-1 runner-up King Russell, that painted him as a major threat to Kentucky Derby favorite Forte, who won the Curlin Florida Derby presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa earlier in the day at Gulfstream Park.

Angel of Empire paid $11.40 to win, which seemed quite generous after he covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.68 on a fast track.

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Two Eagles River set the fractions of :23.27,:47.26 and 1:12.24, while being pressed by 3-1 second choice Reincarnate. Approaching the quarter pole, the Tim Yakteen-trained Reincarnate launched his bid for the lead, but moving best of all was Angel of Empire under Flavien Prat. They were seventh early but swept past the field four-wide and powered to the lead in early stretch. From there the rest of the field was racing for minor placings.

King Russell rallied from ninth to take second by a half-length over Reincarnate. A maiden winner for trainer Ron Moquette in his last start, the 40 points for his runner-up finish lifted the son of Creative Cause into 17th in the race for 20 spots, with the 20th spot guaranteed to Japan's Continuar. Reincarnate netted 30 points and with 45 is 13th on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard.

Rocket Can, the beaten 5-2 favorite, was a head back in fourth, but his 20 points, when added to his previous 40 points, give him 60, lifting him into seventh on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard.