Classic Empire

Kentucky Derby 149: Early Impressions with Albaugh Family Stable's Jason Loutsch

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - TDN Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of leading GI Kentucky Derby contenders to get their 'Early Impressions.' Albaugh Family Stables purchased a total of nine yearlings either alone or in partnership out of the 2021 Keeneland September Sale for a total of $3.37 million. Two of them have made the 20-horse field for the Kentucky Derby and a third will need a scratch to draw into the body of the field. Angel of Empire (Classic Empire) punched his ticket to Louisville following...

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TDN Derby Top 20: Upheaval in the Ranks

A new kingpin graces the No. 1 slot after a wild, final weekend of 100-point preps. The rankings below are independent from the "Road to the Derby" leaderboard Churchill Downs uses to determine starting berths, with several horses included here who are currently below the cut.   1) PRACTICAL MOVE (c, Practical Joke--Ack Naughty, by Afleet Alex) O-Leslie & Pierre Jean Amestoy & Roger Beasley; B-Chad Brown & Head of Plains Partners (KY); T-Tim Yakteen. Sales history: $90,000 RNA yrl '21 KEESEP; $230,000 2yo '22 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: GISW, 7-4-1-2,...

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Mastery's Promise Me a Ride Strides Clear at the Fair Grounds

7th-Fair Grounds, $50,000, Msw, 3-19, 3yo, 1 1/16m (off turf), 1:45.25, ft, 4 1/4 lengths. PROMISE ME A RIDE (c, 3, Mastery--Promise Me More {SW & GSP, $171,866}, by More Than Ready), Triple Crown-nominated and sporting many of the same owners as his stablemate one race prior, 'TDN Rising Star' Bishops Bay (Uncle Mo), raced from the second flight in this off-turf unveiling and rode the rail going into the first turn. Angled out into the four path and pulling for his head to take command, Promise Me a Ride...

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The Week in Review: 'Angel' Aided by Pace Meltdown, but Overall Derby 'Empire' Still Hazy

Saturday's running of the GII Risen Star S. at Fair Grounds seems unlikely to produce a colt of the caliber of the race's namesake. In 1988, Risen Star captivated New Orleans as the hometown horse owned by charismatic connections, parlaying a win in the then-GIII Louisiana Derby to Grade I scores in both the Preakness S. and Belmont S. before being voted 3-year-old champion colt at year's end. But $29.40 upset winner Angel of Empire (Classic Empire) at least fits the bill as a hard-trying underdog you can root for....

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Classic Empire's Angel Of Empire Sprouts Wings In Risen Star

Represented by a trio of well-meant sophomores in Saturday's GII Risen Star S. at Fair Grounds--including the top two favorites--trainer Brad Cox's march to the first Saturday in May continued with an upset victory by the Albaugh Family Stable's Angel of Empire (Classic Empire). Second by three lengths behind his re-opposing and favored stablemate Victory Formation (Tapwrit) in the one-mile Smarty Jones S. Jan. 1, Angel of Empire raced in a ground-saving eighth as the field of 14 rounded the clubhouse turn beneath the lights. The 13-1 chance began to...

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Classic Empire Filly Makes the Grade in Royal Delta

Saturday's GIII Royal Delta S. looked like a rematch of last March's local GII Davona Dale S., with New York-bred Classy Edition turning the tables on favored foe Kathleen O. after enjoying a decided tactical advantage early. Named a 'TDN Rising Star' off her dominant Saratoga debut at two, Classy Edition dominated in a pair of restricted stakes downstate that fall before suffering her first defeat at the hooves of Kathleen O. She was subsequently fourth in the GIII Gazelle S. at the Big A in April, but resurfaced to...

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Tapwrit's Undefeated Victory Formation Victorious in Smarty Jones

On the first page of the New Year, Brad Cox bolded his claim in the race for spots on the Kentucky Derby-points leaderboard when his undefeated colt Victory Formation cruised home the easiest of winners in the Smart Jones S. to pick up ten of them, while his stablemate Angel of Empire gave their shared conditioner the exacta. Christened a 'TDN Rising Star' after he stylishly devastated a deep Keeneland maiden field Oct. 21 last year by over four lengths, the good-looking son of Tapwrit showed he had heart to...

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Uncle Mo Tops Coolmore Roster at $150,000 for 2023

Uncle Mo will once again top the Coolmore America roster at $150,000 for the 2023 breeding season, the same fee at which he stood in 2022, according to a press release from Coolmore Wednesday morning. The 14-year-old stallion was the sire of 10 black-type winners in 2022, including the GI Belmont S. winner Mo Donegal. Justify, who had four black-type winners from his first crop in 2022, will stand for the farm's second highest-fee, at $100,000, the same as in 2022. He is currently the third-leading first-crop sire by earnings....

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'Rising Star' Strobe Returns with Style in Keeneland Allowance

8th-Keeneland, $110,000, Alw, 10-14, (NW2L), 3yo/up, 6f, 1:10.46, ft, 6 lengths. STROBE (c, 3, Into Mischief--Flashing {MGISW, $633,226}, by A.P. Indy) hoisted his 'TDN Rising Star'-dom even higher for all to see with this monster return off the layoff after needing some more time to overcome minor issues. Sporting an eye-catching 99 Beyer for his unveiling May 7 on the Derby Day undercard--a race where he dominated a field which included eventual GSW Elite Power (Curlin), currently on a four-race win streak--the Godolphin homebred was hammered down to overwhelming 1-5...

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Casse Plays Chess with Spinaway-Bound Wonder Wheel

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Though their names are similar and they have trainer Mark Casse in common, Wonder Gadot (Medaglia d'Oro) and Wonder Wheel (Into Mischief) are not related, except, possibly, in ability. Wonder Gadot, a two-time champion and 2018 Horse of the Year in Canada, is named for the Israeli actress, Gal Gadot, who gained international attention in the 2017 film "Wonder Woman." Wonder Wheel, the unbeaten filly who will run in the GI Spinaway S. Sunday, is named for the very famous 102-year-old, 150-foot Ferris wheel at Coney...

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Thursday Racing Insights: Pricey OBS Grads Debuting On Both Coasts

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency  6th-SAR, $88K, Msw, 2yo, (S), 6f, 3:55 p.m. ET    Ed & Susie Orr picked up Impressor (Classic Empire), bred by Chester & Mary Broman, for $335,000 out of April's OBS Sale following a breeze in :10 flat. Out of the GISP mare Misty Rosette (Stormin Fever), Impressor is a half-brother to six winners including Mr. Beer Goggles (Unbridled's Song) who earned nearly $300K. Misty Rosette is a full-sister to GSW Storm Wolf and a half-sister to none other than Littleprincessemma (Yankee Gentleman), who produced...

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Ashford Stallions Front and Center Sunday in Japan

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Hanshin and Tokyo Racecourses. Sunday's racing at headquarters features the G3 Unicorn S., a race won in 2020 by future multiple Group 1 scorer Cafe Pharoah (American Pharoah) and which includes the progressive Ju Taro (Arrogate) trying stakes company for...

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