Empressum never theatened in Vessels Maturity score

Empressum, the champion 3-year-old Quarter Horse of 2021, won his California stakes debut without difficulty in Sunday’s $150,000 Vessels Maturity at Los Alamitos.

Breaking from the outside post in a field of 10, Empressum charged to the front in the first 100 yards and was comfortably in front by the midway point of the 400-yard race. Empresssum ($2.40) won by 1 3/4 lengths over 10-1 Monopolist, finishing in 19.32 seconds. Up and Atem (35-1) and La Estrella Corona (56-1) finished in a dead-heat for third.

The final time was the fastest since Snitcher won in 19.18 seconds in 2011.

Rodrigo Vallejo rode Empressum and was aboard the gelding for wins last year in four derbys – the Remington Park Oklahoma-Bred Derby, Ruidoso and Rainbow derbys at Ruidoso Downs, and Texas Classic Derby at Lone Star Park.

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Empressum was the fastest qualifier for the Vessels Maturity from three time trials on June 11.

Owned by Steve Holt and Jeff Jones and trained by Heath Taylor, Empressum has won 15 of 20 starts and earned $1,169,775.

With the win in the Vessels Maturity, Empressum earned a provisional berth to the Champion of Champions at 440 yards in Dec. 10.