# Angel of Empire

Angel of Empire (foaled April 9, 2020) is an American 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 colt 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.
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. Classic Empire stands at Ashford Stud for $15,000 in 2023. His dam Armony's Angel was winless in eight start but she's 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.
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 4+1⁄4 lengths in a time of 1:49.68 and easily qualifying for the 2023 Kentucky Derby.

## Statistics

| Date | Distance | Race | Grade | Track | Odds | Field | Finish | Winning Time | Winning (Losing) Margin | Jockey |
| 2022 – Two-year-old season ||||||||||||
| Aug 9, 2022 | 1 mile | Maiden Special Weight | | Indianapolis | 1.90* | 7 | 1 | 1:41.40 | 1+1⁄2 lengths | Marcelino Pedroza Jr. |
| Sep 8, 2022 | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | Allowance | | Kentucky Downs | 3.80 | 8 | 6 | 1:17.94 | (8+3⁄4 lengths) | Florent Geroux |
| Nov 14, 2022 | 1 mile | Allowance | | Indianapolis | 2.50* | 8 | 1 | 1:38.69 | 6+1⁄4 lengths | Marcelino Pedroza Jr. |
| 2023 – Three-year-old season ||||||||||||
| Jan 1, 2023 | 1 mile | Smarty Jones Stakes | Listed | Oaklawn Park | 18.10 | 8 | 2 | 1:38.14 | (3 lengths) | Joe Talamo |
| Feb 18, 2023 | 1+1⁄8 miles | Risen Star Stakes | II | Fair Grounds | 13.70 | 14 | 1 | 1:51.47 | 1 length | Luis Saez |
| Apr 1, 2023 | 1+1⁄8 miles | Arkansas Derby | I | Oaklawn Park | 4.70 | 10 | 1 | 1:49.68 | 4+1⁄4 lengths | Flavien Prat |
| May 6, 2023 | 1+1⁄4 miles | Kentucky Derby | I | Churchill Downs | 4.06* | 18 | 3 | 2:01.57 | (1+1⁄2 lengths) | Flavien Prat |
| Jun 10, 2023 | 1+1⁄2 miles | Belmont Stakes | I | Belmont Park | 5.30 | 9 | 4 | 2:29.23 | (2+1⁄4 lengths) | Flavien Prat |
| Jul 29, 2023 | 1+1⁄8 miles | Jim Dandy Stakes | II | Saratoga | 5.70 | 5 | 3 | 1:49.61 | (1⁄2 length) | Flavien Prat |
Legend:
 Turf  Dirt
Notes:
An (*) asterisk after the odds means Angel of Empire was the post-time favorite.
* ↑ Dead heat for fourth place with Hit Show

## Pedigree

Pedigree of Angel of Empire, Bay colt, April 9, 2020 :
| Sire Classic Empire (2014) | Pioneerof the Nile (2006) | Empire Maker (2000) | Unbridled (1987) |
| Sire Classic Empire (2014) | Pioneerof the Nile (2006) | Empire Maker (2000) | Toussaud (1989) |
| Sire Classic Empire (2014) | Pioneerof the Nile (2006) | Star Of Goshen (1994) | Lord At War (ARG) (1980) |
| Sire Classic Empire (2014) | Pioneerof the Nile (2006) | Star Of Goshen (1994) | Castle Eight (1984) |
| Sire Classic Empire (2014) | Sambuca Classica (2004) | Cat Thief (1996) | Storm Cat (1983) |
| Sire Classic Empire (2014) | Sambuca Classica (2004) | Cat Thief (1996) | Train Robbery (1987) |
| Sire Classic Empire (2014) | Sambuca Classica (2004) | In Her Glory (1990) | Miswaki (1978) |
| Sire Classic Empire (2014) | Sambuca Classica (2004) | In Her Glory (1990) | Forever Waving (1980) |
| Dam Armony's Angel (2016) | To Honor and Serve (2008) | Bernardini (2003) | A.P. Indy (1989) |
| Dam Armony's Angel (2016) | To Honor and Serve (2008) | Bernardini (2003) | Cara Rafaela (1993) |
| Dam Armony's Angel (2016) | To Honor and Serve (2008) | Pilfer (2001) | Deputy Minister (CAN) (1979) |
| Dam Armony's Angel (2016) | To Honor and Serve (2008) | Pilfer (2001) | Misty Hour (1995) |
| Dam Armony's Angel (2016) | Seeinsbelieven (2002) | Carson City (1987) | Mr. Prospector (1970) |
| Dam Armony's Angel (2016) | Seeinsbelieven (2002) | Carson City (1987) | Blushing Promise (1982) |
| Dam Armony's Angel (2016) | Seeinsbelieven (2002) | Coragil (1993) | Metfeld (1982) |
| Dam Armony's Angel (2016) | Seeinsbelieven (2002) | Coragil (1993) | White Jasmine (1977) (family 26) |