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 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.

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
Legend: Notes: An (*) asterisk after the odds means Angel of Empire was the post-time favorite.