Empire of Gold to make Keeneland return in Perryville Stakes

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Empire of Gold, a 3-year-old making his graded stakes debut against older horses, was dismissed at 51-1 in the Grade 2 Phoenix Stakes on opening day at Keeneland. After a strong runner-up effort, he is likely to be a much shorter price when he returns to Lexington next month.

Trainer Terry Eoff said he plans to bring Empire of Gold, who is based at Remington Park, back to Keeneland for the $100,000 Perryville against his fellow 3-year-old sprinters on the Breeders’ Cup Saturday undercard on Nov. 7.

Empire of Gold dueled with Grade 1 winner No Parole through swift opening fractions in the Phoenix, opened a clear advantage in upper stretch, and was overhauled late by Diamond Oops, beaten three-quarters of a length. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 95, matching the career-best figure he was given for winning an allowance race in July at Lone Star Park.

“We knew he was good, but we didn’t know just how good,” Eoff said. “He beat some pretty good horses.”

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Empire of Gold has won 4 of 12 career starts and has only missed the board once, that coming when he was fifth in the Grand Prairie Derby at Lone Star going 1 1/16 miles.

“I just had to try him long once,” Eoff said. “His best lick is 5 1/2 to 6 1/2 furlongs.”