Angel of Empire
{{short description|American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox racehorse
| horsename = Angel of Empire
| image_name =
| caption =
| sire = Classic Empire
| grandsire = Pioneerof the Nile
| dam = Armony's Angel
| damsire = Sambuca Classica
| sex = Stallion
| foaled = {{Birth date and age|April 9, 2020}}{{cite web |title=Pedigree of Angel of Empire |url=https://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm/Angel%20of%20Empire?page_state=DISPLAY_REPORT&reference_number=10791263®istry=T&horse_name=Angel%20of%20Empire&dam_name=Armony%27s%20Angel&foaling_year=2020&include_sire_line=N&include_truenick=N |website=Equineline |access-date=April 29, 2023}}
| country = United States
| color = Dark Bay
| breeder =Forgotten Land Investment Inc & Black Diamond Equine
| owner = Albaugh Family Stables
| trainer = Brad H. Cox
| record =9: 4-2-1
| earnings =$1,489,375{{cite web |title=Profile of Angel of Empire |url=https://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=Horse&refno=10791263®istry=T |website=Equibase |access-date=30 July 2023}}
| race =Risen Star Stakes (2023)
Arkansas Derby (2023)
| awards =
| updated =30 July 2023
}}
Angel of Empire (foaled April 9, 2020) is an American retired Thoroughbred racehorse who won the Grade I Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park and Grade II Risen Star Stakes at the Fair Grounds in 2023 as a three-year-old.
Background
Angel of Empire is a dark bay stallion that was bred in Pennsylvania by Forgotten Land Investment and Black Diamond Equine and bought by the Albaugh family for $70,000 from the Warrendale consignment at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He is the first foal from the To Honor and Serve mare Armony's Angel. Angel of Empire was also a $32,000 (Reserve Not Attained) at the 2020 Keeneland November Mixed Sale when consigned by agent St. George Sales.{{cite web |last1=Ehalt |first1= Bob |title=Angel of Empire Shines in Arkansas Derby; The Brad Cox trainee took his second straight race after winning the Risen Star (G2). |url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/267601/angel-of-empire-shines-in-arkansas-derby |website=bloodhorse.com |date=April 1, 2023 |access-date=April 29, 2023}}
He was sired by Classic Empire, winner of the 2016 Grade I Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita Park and also won the Arkansas Derby in 2017.{{cite web |title=Profile of Classic Empire |url=https://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=Horse&refno=9709258®istry=T&rbt=TB |website=Equibase |access-date=April 29, 2023}} Classic Empire stands at Ashford Stud for $15,000 in 2023. His dam Armony's Angel was winless in eight start but she is a daughter of sire To Honor and Serve who won of the Grade II Nashua Stakes and Grade II Remsen Stakes running long distances as a juvenile.{{cite web |last1=Johnson|first1=J. Keeler |title=Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Angel of Empire |url=https://edge.twinspires.com/racing/kentucky-derby-pedigree-profile-angel-of-empire/|website=twinspires.com |date=February 20, 2023 |access-date=April 29, 2023}}
Angel of Empire is trained by Brad H. Cox.
Racing career
=2022: two-year-old season=
Angel of Empire ran three times in 2022 for two wins at Horseshoe Indianapolis. His lone defeat was on the turf track at Kentucky Downs
=2023: three-year-old season=
Angel of Empire began his three-year-old campaign on New Year's Day at Oaklawn Park in the one mile Listed Smarty Jones Stakes finishing second by three lengths to odds-on favorite Victory Formation.
Trainer Bad Cox sent Angel of Empire to New Orleans when he stunned a full field of fourteen in the Risen Star Stakes winning by one length at odds of nearly 14/1.
Angel of Empire returned to Oaklawn Park where he finished strongly to win the Grade I Arkansas Derby, a Road to the Kentucky Derby event by {{frac|4|1|4}} lengths in a time of 1:49.68 and easily qualifying for the 2023 Kentucky Derby.
Retirement
In October 2024, it was announced that Angel of Empire had been retired and would stand at stud at Taylor Made Stallions from the upcoming breeding season, joining their other stallion Not This Time.{{Cite web |title=Grade 1 Winner Angel of Empire to Stand at Taylor Made |url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/280463/grade-1-winner-angel-of-empire-to-stand-at-taylor-made |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=www.bloodhorse.com}}
Statistics
| class = "wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; width:100%; font-size:90%" |
| scope="col" | Date
! scope="col" | Distance ! scope="col" | Race ! scope="col" | Grade ! scope="col" | Track ! scope="col" | Odds ! scope="col" | Field ! scope="col" | Finish ! scope="col" | Winning ! scope="col" | Winning ! scope="col" | Jockey ! scope="col" class="unsortable"| Ref |
|---|
| style="background-color:white"
|align="left" colspan=12|2022 – Two-year-old season |
| {{dts|2022|Aug|9|format=mdy}}
| {{ntsh|8.0}} 1 mile | {{ntsh|6}} | 1.90* | 7 | 1 | 1:41.40 | {{ntsh|1.5}} {{frac|1|1|2}} lengths | {{sortname|Marcelino |Pedroza Jr.|nolink=1}} |
| style="background-color:lightcyan"
| {{dts|2022|Sep|8|format=mdy}} | {{ntsh|6.5}} {{frac|6|1|2}} furlongs | Allowance | {{ntsh|5.5}} | 3.80 | 8 | 6 | 1:17.94 | {{ntsh |
| 9.75}} ({{frac|8|3|4}} lengths)
| {{sortname|Florent|Geroux}} |
| {{dts|2022|Nov|14|format=mdy}}
| {{ntsh|8.0}} 1 mile | Allowance | {{ntsh|5.5}} | 2.50* | 8 | 1 | 1:38.69 | {{ntsh|6.25}} {{frac|6|1|4}} lengths | {{sortname|Marcelino |Pedroza Jr.|nolink=1}} |
| style="background-color:white"
|align="left" colspan=12|2023 – Three-year-old season |
| {{dts|2023|Jan |1|format=mdy}}
| {{ntsh|8.0}} 1 mile | {{ntsh|4}}Listed |18.10 | 8 | 2 | 1:38.14 | {{ntsh |
| 3}} (3 lengths)
| {{sortname|Joe|Talamo}} |
| {{dts|2023|Feb|18|format=mdy}}
| {{ntsh|9.0}} {{frac|1|1|8}} miles | {{ntsh|2}}II |13.70 | 14 | 1 | 1:51.47 | {{ntsh|1.0}} 1 length | {{sortname|Luis|Saez}} |
| {{dts|2023|Apr|1|format=mdy}}
| {{ntsh|9.0}} {{frac|1|1|8}} miles | {{ntsh|1}}I |4.70 | 10 | 1 | 1:49.68 | {{ntsh|4.25}} {{frac|4|1|4}} lengths | {{sortname|Flavien|Prat}} |
| {{dts|2023|May|6|format=mdy}}
| {{ntsh|10.0}} {{frac|1|1|4}} miles | {{ntsh|1}}I | 4.06* | 18 | 3 | 2:01.57 | {{ntsh |
| 1.5}} ({{frac|1|1|2}} lengths)
| {{sortname|Flavien|Prat}} |
| {{dts|2023|Jun|10|format=mdy}}
| {{ntsh|12.0}} {{frac|1|1|2}} miles | {{ntsh|1}}I |5.30 | 9 | 4{{efn|{{nowrap|Dead heat}} for fourth place with Hit Show}} | 2:29.23 | {{ntsh |
| 2.25}} ({{frac|2|1|4}} lengths)
| {{sortname|Flavien|Prat}} |
| {{dts|2023|Jul|29|format=mdy}}
| {{ntsh|9.0}} {{frac|1|1|8}} miles | {{ntsh|2}}II | Saratoga |5.70 | 5 | 3 | 1:49.61 | {{ntsh |
| 0.5}} ({{frac|1|2}} length)
| {{sortname|Flavien|Prat}} |
{{refbegin}}
Legend:
{{Legend inline|lightcyan |Turf}}
{{Legend inline|#F8F9FA |Dirt}}
Notes:
An (*) asterisk after the odds means Angel of Empire was the post-time favorite.
{{refend}}
{{notelist}}
Pedigree
{{Pedigree
|name =Angel of Empire, Bay colt, April 9, 2020
|f = Classic Empire
(2014)
|m = Armony's Angel
(2016)
|ff = Pioneerof the Nile
(2006)
|fm = Sambuca Classica
(2004)
|mf = To Honor and Serve
(2008)
|mm = Seeinsbelieven
(2002)
|fff = Empire Maker
(2000)
|ffm = Star Of Goshen
(1994)
|fmf = Cat Thief
(1996)
|fmm = In Her Glory
(1990)
|mff = Bernardini
(2003)
|mfm = Pilfer
(2001)
|mmf = Carson City
(1987)
|mmm = Coragil
(1993)
|ffff = Unbridled (1987)
|fffm = Toussaud (1989)
|ffmf = Lord At War (ARG) (1980)
|ffmm = Castle Eight (1984)
|fmff = Storm Cat (1983)
|fmfm = Train Robbery (1987)
|fmmf = Miswaki (1978)
|fmmm = Forever Waving (1980)
|mfff = A.P. Indy (1989)
|mffm = Cara Rafaela (1993)
|mfmf = Deputy Minister (CAN) (1979)
|mfmm = Misty Hour (1995)
|mmff = Mr. Prospector (1970)
|mmfm = Blushing Promise (1982)
|mmmf = Metfeld (1982)
|mmmm = White Jasmine (1977) (family 26){{cite web |title=Thoroughbred Bloodlines – OLD MERLIN MARE (GB) – Family 26 |url=https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Families/Family26.htm |website=www.bloodlines.net |access-date=April 29, 2023}}
}}