Hollywood Park: Miss Empire scores in Cinderella

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - A recent schooling workout for the 2-year-old maiden Miss Empire gave jockey Kevin Krigger the confidence that the filly belonged in Saturday's $100,000 Cinderella Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park.

That was before Krigger analyzed the race and found it loaded with speed.

Making her second start, Miss Empire closed from fourth in a field of nine to score a convincing win in the Cinderella Stakes, the first stakes of the year for 2-year-old fillies in Southern California. Miss Empire was fourth in a maiden race on May 5 and had five subsequent workouts before the Cinderella, including a June 12 workout behind horses, Krigger said.

"The filly worked so good in the last work behind horses," Krigger said.

Owned by Gary and Cecil Barber and Kevin Tsujihara and trained by Peter Miller, Miss Empire ($19.80) ran 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:05. "She was explosive when I turned her loose," Krigger said.

Miss Empire finished 4 3/4 lengths clear of runner-up Awesome Annie, who was part of an early speed duel with Awe' Some Kitten, the eventual fifth-place finisher.
In the opening quarter-mile, Miss Empire was two lengths off the pace in the sprint race.

Tilde, the 3-1 second choice, ran third, finishing 5 3/4 lengths behind the winner. Unusual Way, the 9-5 favorite, raced wide early and finished seventh.

Miss Empire, by Empire Maker, has earned $63,120 from her first two starts. With the win on Saturday, she becomes a candidate for the $150,000 Landaluce Stakes over six furlongs on July 14.