Angel of Empire works half-mile for Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs
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Arkansas Derby winner Angel of Empire was among trainer Brad Cox’s workers as he turned in the first of three likely Kentucky Derby works on Saturday morning at Churchill Downs. The colt was credited with a half-mile in 48.20 seconds.
Angel of Empire worked with regular exercise rider Edvin Vargas aboard when the main track, rated fast, opened at 5:30 a.m. Wearing the blinkers he has often donned for breezes, but not recent races, he was outside stablemate Tapit's Conquest through an opening quarter of 24.40 seconds. He galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.80, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols.
Angel of Empire, second in the Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn to start his 3-year-old campaign, won the Grade 2 Risen Star on Feb. 18 at Fair Grounds, and then rolled by 4 1/4 lengths in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on April 1.
Two hours later, following a renovation break, stablemate Jace's Road, also with Vargas up, worked on the outside of Smarty Jones winner Victory Formation in 48.20 seconds.
Jace's Road won the Gun Runner Stakes in December at Fair Grounds, finished fifth in the Grade 3 Southwest at Oaklawn and, most recently, was third in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby on March 25. This was his second work at Churchill Downs this spring.
Angel of Empire runs in the colors of Albaugh Family Stables, while Jace's Road is co-owned by the Albaughs and West Point Thoroughbreds.
“It was a solid morning three weeks out from the Derby,” Cox said. “It’s always an exciting time of year, and we’ll see what happens in 21 days.”
Cox's other Derby candidates, Coolmore and partners' Verifying and Gary and Mary West's Hit Show, both galloped on Saturday morning at Churchill. The two colts were second in the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes and Grade 2 Wood Memorial, respectively, both April 8. Since they raced more recently, they are scheduled to work next week.
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