Empressum wins third straight Vessels Maturity

Empressum, the 2022 Quarter Horse World Champion, became the second horse to win three consecutive runnings of the $150,000 Vessels Maturity at Los Alamitos on Sunday in his first start since January.

Ridden by Rodrigo Vallejo, Empressum broke well from post 8 and was in front shortly after the start of the 400-yard race. Empressum led by a neck after 100 yards and increased his advantage to three-quarters of a length by the midway point.

Sent off favored, Empressum ($3.20) won by three-quarters of a length over 7-2 Jeriko. London Toby (4-1) finished third, beaten 1 3/4 lengths in the field of 10. Empressum was timed in 19.37 seconds.

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Empressum and Jeriko are trained by Heath Taylor. Empressum, a 6-year-old gelding by Apollitical Jess, races for owners and breeders Steve Holt and Jeff Jones.

With the win, Empressum earned a berth to the $700,000 Champion of Champions at Los Alamitos at 440 yards on Dec. 14, a race he won in 2022. Last December, Empressum finished second to stablemate Flash Bak in the Champion of Champions.

Flash Bak and Empressum were first and second in their first starts of 2024, the Championship at Sunland Park in January.

Empressum has won 23 of 33 starts and earned $2,083,623.

A Ransom, in 2000-2002 is the only other runner to win three consecutive runnings of the Vessels Maturity, the leading race of the summer for older horses at Los Alamitos.

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