Two of four Kentucky Derby (G1) leads from coach Brad Cox—the Arkansas Derby (G1) winner angel of the empire and the winner of Gun Runner Stakes Jace’s Road —resume training for the May 6 race at Churchill Downs with easy half-mile workouts on April 15 at the Louisville, Ky., track.
When the track opened at 5:30 a.m. ET, Albaugh Family Stables’ Angel of Empire was up and running: May 48 with a 3-year-old stable friend Tapit .’s Conquest . Two hours later, Thoroughbred West Point and Albaugh Family Barn. Jace’s Road work outside of second-year students win shares winning lineup in equivalent time.
After racing on Saturday, Jace’s Road ranked 21st on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard, needing a fugitive to claim a spot in the Kentucky Derby starting gate.
Kentucky Derby Angel of Empire opponents outside Tapit’s Conquest – 4F: 48.20. #KyDerby pic.twitter.com/oB6o5ZiJPX
– Kevin Kerstein (@HorseRacingKK) April 15, 2023
Cox said: “It’s been a great morning three weeks since the Derby. “It’s always an exciting time of year and we’ll see what happens in 21 days.”
After Jace’s Road’s performance, Cox’s other contenders in the Derby, runner-up Blue Grass Stakes (G1) Verification in progress and runner-up Wood Memorial (G2) Impressions, gallop about 1 1/2 miles. They are scheduled to work on April 22.
Windy Jace’s Road (outside) with Victory Lineup
Lecomte Staking Winner (G3) Instant coffee also won Saturday morning for Cox, going half a mile by 51/5, although he doesn’t appear to have enough Derby qualifying points to enter the 20-horse field.
More Kentucky Derby horses are expected at Churchill Downs in the coming days, including Blue Grass winners Tapit Trice Florida Derby winner (G1) Forte and winner of the Louisiana Derby (G2) Kingsbarns for Hall of Fame coach Todd Pletcher.
Sunland Park Derby winner (G3) Wild On Ice was at Churchill Downs, scheduled for April 17, according to coach Joel Marr.
Frank Sumpter’s hybrid arrived at Churchill Downs April 9 after a 15-hour journey from New Mexico. Gelded cross-Texas son of French fries moved to California, boarded a plane to Tennessee, then moved to Churchill Downs.
Ken Tohill, who at 60 will become the oldest jockey to enter the Kentucky Derby, is scheduled to take part in Wild On Ice on Monday.
“I think he got really used to Kentucky this week,” Marr said. “He seems happy and feels good. We wanted to graze him after a morning workout and we just finished taking him to the equine spa.”
Other 3-year-olds currently at Churchill Downs need to defect to get in, including the Arkansas Derby runner-up (G1) King Russel .
After racing on Saturday, he placed 26th on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard.
“Just waiting to see if we can do it,” said coach Ron Moquett Oaklawn Park public April 14. “We want to run.”
A gray son of creative cause owned by Brereton Jones and Naber Racing, King Russell entered the Arkansas Derby, Oaklawn’s fourth and final Kentucky Derby, with just a first win on his résumé. King Russell made his first two starts last fall in Kentucky and finished second in his first two races this season at Oaklawn before winning a breakthrough at 1 1/16. miles on February 25. King Russell, led by Rafael Bejarano, closed strong in the Arkansas Derby finishing 4 1/4 behind Angel of Empire and ahead of the 3rd place winners. regeneration (Tuesday) and Missiles can (Wednesday).
“We knew that as the gap widened, we would get better and better,” Moquett said.
Moquett noted that Bejarano would keep the mount if the foal had a chance to run the Kentucky Derby.
When asked about Plan B, Moquett said King Russell could get his $200,000 back in Bathhouse Row bets at 1 1/8 mile April 22 in Oaklawn or enter a subsidy race on a supplementary card. Kentucky Derby.
This press release has been edited by BloodHorse Staff for content and style.
