Empressum takes prestigious Champion of Champions for Quarter Horses

CYPRESS, Calif. - Empressum became the second horse to win non-consecutive runnings of the $600,000 Champion of Champions at Los Alamitos on Saturday, closing from a half-length deficit in the prestigious 440-yard race for Quarter Horses.

Empressum trailed stablemate Jess Good Wine after 100 yards, but that has often been the case in his accomplished career. Empressum was sharp in the final 100 yards, rallying to win by a half-length.

Ridden by Rodrigo Vallejo, Empressum ($8.80) was timed in 21.30 seconds. Jess Good Wine (3-1) had a five-race winning streak end in his first start at Los Alamitos.

Shakers No Secret, a 21-1 outsider, finished third, 1 1/4 lengths behind Empressum. Jeriko, the 9-5 favorite, had a troubled start and was unable to recover, finishing fourth in a field of 10 by 1 3/4 lengths.

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Empressum, Jess Good Wine and Jeriko are trained by Heath Taylor, who won the race for the third consecutive year. Last year, Flash Bak and Empressum were first and second separated by three-quarters of a length.

Flash Bak was euthanized earlier this fall after being diagnosed with equine infections anemia, a disease that ravaged Taylor’s stables in California and Texas.

Empressum, a 6-year-old gelding by Apollitical Jess, has won 25 of 36 starts and earned $2,458,873 for owners and breeders Steve Holt and Jeff Jacobs.

Empressum has won 3 of 5 starts this year. He was second to Flash Bak in the Championship at Sunland Park in January, and won the Vessels Maturity for the third consecutive year at Los Alamitos in July.

An Oklahoma-bred, Empressum finished second to Jeriko in the Go Man Go Handicap at Los Alamitos in August, but was promoted to first when Jeriko was disqualified for causing interference.

Jeriko and Empressum were first and second in the Robert Boniface Los Alamitos Championship at 440 yards on Oct. 12 in their final starts before Saturday’s race.

Holt and Taylor said in the winner’s circle that Empressum will be given a winter rest with the intent of a return to racing in 2025.

Empressum is the fifth horse to win two runnings of the Champion of Champions, preceded by Dash for Cash (1976-1977), Refrigerator (1992-1994), SLM Big Daddy (1997-1998), and Tailor Fit (1999 and 2001).

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