Albaugh Family Has Bases Covered on Derby Leaderboard

With less than four weeks until the Kentucky Derby (G1), Albaugh Family Stables has every base covered on the Run for the Roses' Leaderboard.

Three Albaugh 3-year-olds are in the mix. One is safely in the race, another is just barely in, and a third rests on the bubble, giving the connections the full spectrum of emotions as the days draw closer to the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs.

"We got a long way to go but it's exciting to be in this position. We're on pins and needles and can't wait to get to Churchill Downs," said Jason Loutsch, part of the Albaugh ownership group and racing manager for the stable. "I can't wait to see what happens in the next few weeks."

The sure thing for the Albaugh team is Angel of Empire , a Pennsylvania-bred trained by Brad Cox who is in the field as he ranks third in qualifying points. The son of Classic Empire   has 154 points off his victories in the Arkansas Derby (G1) and Risen Star Stakes (G2), and a second in the Smarty Jones Stakes.

The tension involves Jace's Road  and Cyclone Mischief .

Jace's Road, owned in partnership with West Point Thoroughbreds and trained by Cox, is currently in the field with 45 points, good for the 19th and final available spot as the 20th berth is guaranteed to Continuar , who qualified through the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby series.

Jace's Road picked up his points through a win in the Gun Runner Stakes, thirds in the Louisiana Derby (G2) and Iroquois Stakes (G3), and a fifth in the Southwest Stakes (G3).

The potential problem he faces is that a horse (or two) outside of the Top 20 could pick up enough points in the final qualifying stakes, the April 15 Lexington Stakes (G3) at Keeneland, to vault past him and put the Cox-trained son of Quality Road   on the bubble.

Entries for the Lexington will be drawn April 12. David Fiske, racing manager for Winchell Thoroughbreds, said April 10 that Winchell's Disarm , who is 26th on the leaderboard with 40 points, is a possible starter in the Lexington, which offers 20-8-6-4-2 points to the top five finishers. Thanks to that structure, a third or better in the Lexington would give Disarm, who was second in the Louisiana Derby, at least 46 points and boot Jace's Road out of the Top 20.

On the bubble for the Albaughs is Cyclone Mischief, whom they own in a partnership with breeder Castleton Lyons. The Dale Romans-trained son of Into Mischief   also has 45 points, which would have landed him a spot in the starting gate in every other Derby year since the point system was established in 2013. Yet he's 22nd for this edition and at the moment needs two defections in order to run, and could need three if Disarm earns six or more points in the Lexington and his connections move forward to the Derby.

Cyclone Mischief was third in both the Florida Derby (G1) and Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2), both times finishing behind Kentucky Derby favorite Forte .

Reincarnate  (18th), Jace's Road (19th), Skinner  (21st), and Cyclone Mischief (22nd) all have 45 points but the tiebreaker, earnings in non-restricted stakes, favors Reincarnate with $263,250. The other three have $200,350, $174,500, and $137,525, respectively.

That said, it's not uncommon for defections from the projected Derby field in the weeks to come, which could improve the standing of Jace's Road and Cyclone Mischief. But until that actually happens, Loutsch and the rest of the Albaugh Team will be sitting on the edge of their seats, watching to see what happens.

"I think we have a great chance to get Jace's Road in, and Cyclone Mischief is going to be one of those last-minute things," Loutsch said. "Being on the bubble is a new experience for us and I'm finding that we're reading a lot more stories, trying to find out what's happening with everyone. It's wild."

Loutsch said Angel of Empire exited his Arkansas Derby win in fine shape and has settled in nicely at Churchill to prepare for his May 6 date with destiny in the opening leg of the Triple Crown.

"He came back great from the Arkansas Derby and shipped to his Churchill Downs barn Sunday and is doing well. We're excited," Loutsch said. "I think a lot of horses are peaking now and it's going to be an unbelievable Derby. There are numerous horses that can win with the right trip. I don't think there's a standout. From top to bottom, I believe it's a solid field."