Angel of Empire, Hit Show, Forte all work for showdown in Jim Dandy

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The last time they were seen together in the afternoon, Angel of Empire and Hit Show finished in a dead heat for fourth in the Belmont Stakes.

The next time they will be seen together in the afternoon, Angel of Empire and Hit Show will be in the starting gate for the Grade 2, $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes on July 29 at Saratoga, trainer Brad Cox said Friday.

Cox confirmed that plan after Angel of Empire and Hit Show breezed together Friday over the Oklahoma training track, going five furlongs together in 1:01, per Daily Racing Form clocker Mike Vesce.

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With Flavien Prat on Angel of Empire and Florent Geroux aboard Hit Show, the team went together in splits of 13 seconds, 37.40, and 1:01.20, and they galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.40 and seven furlongs in 1:26.20.

It was the third work for both since the Belmont. Prior to that race, Angel of Empire finished third as the favorite in the Kentucky Derby while Hit Show finished fifth.

“Based off what I saw this morning, they haven’t regressed. They had a really good move this morning, together in hand,” Cox said. “I’d like to get them both back in the win column. If I run them against each other that won’t happen, I don’t think, even though they dead-heated last time.”

Cox said he chose the Jim Dandy for both of them because he wants to get them a race over the track.

“We’re hoping we see enough from them to pursue the Travers,” Cox said.

Angel of Empire and Hit Show will take on Forte in the Jim Dandy. Forte, last year’s 2-year-old champion, also worked Friday over the Oklahoma training track, going a half-mile in 49.00. With Irad Ortiz Jr. up, Forte, working outside of Grand Sonata, a Grade 3 winner on turf, went in splits of 24.60 and 24.40, and he galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.28.

“I thought it was a good breeze, he’s a pretty clever horse. He kind of does what he has to do. He looked like he was moving well, enjoying himself,” trainer Todd Pletcher said.

Pletcher had originally intended to work Forte over the main track. Following heavy rain Thursday after the races and some showers early Friday morning, the main track was sealed for training while the Oklahoma was harrowed and good.

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