Derby Prospects Angel of Empire, Jace's Road Breeze

Two of trainer Brad Cox's four Kentucky Derby (G1) prospects—Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Angel of Empire  and Gun Runner Stakes winner Jace's Road —continued their training toward the May 6 race at Churchill Downs with easy half-mile workouts April 15 at the Louisville, Ky., track.

When the track opened at 5:30 a.m. ET, Albaugh Family Stables' Angel of Empire worked :48 1/5 alongside 3-year-old stablemate Tapit's Conquest . Two hours later, West Point Thoroughbreds and Albaugh Family Stables' Jace's Road  worked on the outside of stakes-winning sophomore Victory Formation  in equivalent time.

After racing on Saturday, Jace's Road ranked 21st on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard, needing one defection to land a place in the Kentucky Derby starting gate.

Kentucky Derby contender Angel of Empire outside Tapit’s Conquest - 4F :48.20. #KyDerby pic.twitter.com/oB6o5ZiJPX

— Kevin Kerstein (@HorseRacingKK) April 15, 2023

"It was a solid morning with three weeks out from the Derby," Cox said. "It's always an exciting time of year and we'll see what happens in 21 days."

Following Jace's Road's work, Cox's other Derby contenders, Blue Grass Stakes (G1) runner-up Verifying  and Wood Memorial (G2) runner-up Hit Show, galloped about 1 1/2 miles. They are scheduled to work April 22.

Lecomte Stakes (G3) winner Instant Coffee  also breezed Saturday morning for Cox, a half-mile in :51 1/5, though he would appear to have insufficient Derby qualifying points to make the 20-horse field.

More Kentucky Derby horses are expected on the grounds at Churchill Downs in the coming days, including Blue Grass winner Tapit Trice , Florida Derby (G1) winner Forte , and Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Kingsbarns  for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.

Sunland Park Derby (G3) winner Wild On Ice , already at Churchill Downs, is scheduled to breeze April 17, according to trainer Joel Marr.

Frank Sumpter's homebred arrived at Churchill Downs April 9 following a 15-hour journey from New Mexico. The Texas-bred gelded son of Tapizar  vanned to California, boarded a plane to Tennessee, and then vanned to Churchill Downs.

Ken Tohill, who at age 60 would become the oldest jockey to ride in the Kentucky Derby, is scheduled to work Wild On Ice Monday. 

"I think he's really gotten used to Kentucky this week," Marr said. "He seems happy and is feeling good. We like to graze him after training in the morning and we just got done taking him to the equine spa."

Other 3-year-olds currently at Churchill Downs need defections to gain entry, including Arkansas Derby (G1) runner-up King Russell .

After racing on Saturday, he ranked 26th on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard.

"Just waiting to see if we make it," trainer Ron Moquett told Oaklawn Park publicity 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 points race, with only a maiden victory on his resume. King Russell made his first two starts last fall in Kentucky and finished second in his first two races this season at Oaklawn before his breakthrough victory at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 25. King Russell, under Rafael Bejarano, closed strongly in the Arkansas Derby to finish 4 1/4 lengths behind Angel of Empire and ahead of grade 3 winners Reincarnate  (third) and Rocket Can  (fourth).

"We knew that when the distance stretched out, we were going to be better and better," Moquett said.

Moquett noted Bejarano would retain the mount if the colt gets an opportunity to run the Kentucky Derby. 

Asked about a Plan B, Moquett said King Russell could be wheeled back in the $200,000 Bath House Row Stakes at 1 1/8 miles April 22 at Oaklawn or go in an allowance race on the Kentucky Derby undercard.