Glorious Empire drills for Breeders' Cup Turf

Glorious Empire, the multiple graded stakes-winning 7-year-old gelding, completed preparations for next Saturday’s $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf at Churchill Downs by working seven furlongs in 1:27.60 over the synthetic surface at the Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland on Saturday morning.

Trainer James “Chucky” Lawrence II said he caught Glorious Empire’s final eighth in 11.80 seconds. It was Glorious Empire’s sixth workout of six furlongs or longer since he won the Grade 1 Sword Dancer on Aug. 25 at Saratoga.

“Nice breeze, very happy with him right now,” Lawrence said by phone Saturday. “Seems like he’s checking all the [boxes]. Hopefully, he’s as good on race day as he is right now.”

Lawrence said he plans to ship Glorious Empire to Churchill Downs by van on Tuesday night, arriving at Churchill Downs on Wednesday morning. Horses are required to be on the grounds 72 hours before their races.

Lawrence said he wanted to keep Glorious Empire in his usual surroundings as long as possible.

Being based at Fair Hill, Glorious Empire always ships to race. Lawrence said that sometimes he ships Glorious Empire to a track even when he’s not scheduled to race “just to make him relaxed” about shipping. “We just do different stuff with him,” Lawrence added.

Glorious Empire will bring a three-race winning streak into the Turf. He won an allowance race at Delaware Park in June, dead-heated for the win with Channel Maker in the Grade 2 Bowling Green at Saratoga on July 28, and beat Channel Maker by 1 3/4 lengths in the Sword Dancer.

Channel Maker flattered Glorious Empire when he came back to win the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont Park on Sept. 29.

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