Empressum overwhelming choice in Go Man Go at Los Alamitos

Empressum has scared the competition from Sunday’s $100,000 Go Man Go Handicap at Los Alamitos.

In the last four years, the Go Man Go Handicap has drawn nine or 10 starters, a reflection on the race’s purse and importance as a late-summer test for California’s older Quarter Horse division.

Empressum, the champion 3-year-old of 2021, will have six rivals on Sunday in an attempt to extend his winning streak to three races.

Trained by Heath Taylor for Steve Holt of Guthrie, Okla., and Jeff Jones of Pembroke, N.C., Empressum was the easy winner of the $156,300 Vessels Maturity, the nation’s leading race of the summer for older males, at 400 yards on July 3.

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Empressum was 1-5. He broke well and prevailed by 1 3/4 lengths over Monopolist, who is part of the Go Man Go field.

In the Go Man Go, Empressum will be ridden by regular jockey Rodrigo Vallejo and will once again be a massive favorite. A 4-year-old gelding, Empressum has won 15 of 20 starts and earned $1,169,775. In 2021, Empressum won four derbys at Remington Park, Ruidoso Downs, and Lone Star Park en route to the overall 3-year-old title and championship as outstanding 3-year-old gelding.

All seven entrants in the Go Man Go are stakes winners. Aside from Monopolist, Flash Bak has the best chance to upset Empressum.

Owned by Sammy Valeriano since earlier this year, Flash Bak won the $893,650 Los Alamitos Super Derby last November when owned by the Dutch Masters 3d partnership.

Flash Bak was second for Valeriano in the Brad McKinzie Los Alamitos Winter Championship in February and a troubled fourth behind 2021 World Champion Danjer in the Debbie Schauf Remington Park Championship in May.

Earlier this month, Los Alamitos track officials extended an invitation for Empressum to the $750,000 Champion of Champions at 440 yards on Dec. 10. The Go Man Go fits as a prep race toward that goal, along with a potential start in the Robert Boniface Los Alamitos Championship on Oct. 8.

The Go Man Go Handicap is the final race on Sunday’s nine-race program. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.