Empressum gets promoted after stablemate gets disqualified in Go Man Go

Empressum, the 2022 World Champion Quarter Horse, was promoted from second to first in Sunday’s $100,000 Go Man Go Handicap after stablemate Jeriko was demoted to last of seven for causing interference midway through the 400-yard race.

Empressum, Jeriko, and Tha Duke, the runners involved in the disqualification, are trained by Heath Taylor.

Jeriko (4-1) started from post 3 and was edging closer to early leader Edberg Verde when he drifted to the outside under jockey Jose Nicasio, forcing jockey Jesus Ayala to check Tha Duke.

Jeriko won by a nose over Empressum in 19.55 seconds. Cattail Cove (28-1) finished third by a half-length, while Tha Duke (20-1) finished last by 3 1/4 lengths. After a six-minute inquiry, the stewards demoted Jeriko.

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The disqualification cost Jeriko a berth as an alternate to the $700,000 Champion of Champions at Los Alamitos on Dec. 14, the nation’s leading race for older horses. Jeriko was fourth in the 2023 Champion of Champions as a 3-year-old, earning a berth after winning the $903,650 Los Alamitos Super Derby last November.

The field for the Champion of Champions consists of runners who earn automatic berths by winning major stakes through the year, or in time trials, which this year will be run on Nov. 17. The winner of the Go Man Go Handicap receives an alternative berth, and gains a position in the Champion of Champions field if a horse with an automatic berth declines the invitation.

Jeriko has another opportunity to gain an automatic berth to the Champion of Champions if he starts as expected in the Robert Boniface Los Alamitos Championship on Oct. 12.

Empressum, who was ridden by Rodrigo Vallejo, paid $2.60. A 6-year-old gelding, Empressum was favored on the strength of an easy win in the $150,000 Vessels Maturity at Los Alamitos on July 7. Jeriko was second by three-quarters of a length in the Vessels.

Empressum, who earned a berth to the Champion of Champions with the win in the Vessels, has won 24 of 34 starts and earned $2,138,623 for owners and breeders Steve Holt and Jeff Jacobs.

Taylor said in the winner’s circle that Empressum is also a candidate for the Los Alamitos Championship.

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