Page 161 - August 2021

“That colt was up in the bit, and he was anticipating the break and just left there gone,” said Holt.
Holt knew Empressum had some excellent horses behind him, including Dulce Sin Tacha, the Champion 2-Year-Old Colt of 2020. Heath Taylor trains Empressum and Dulce Sin Tacha.
“Where he wins the race is down there at that last 100,” Holt stated. “He and Dulce Sin Tacha were fairly close at that point, but from then on he was just getting away from all of them.”
Empressum, the second-fastest qualifier, defeated Dulce Sin Tacha by 1 1/2-lengths in :21.131 for 440 yards.
Earlier this year, Empressum captured the Remington Park Oklahoma-Bred Derby-RG2 and then the Ruidoso Derby-G1. In the first, he had trouble during the race and in the second he didn’t have an ideal start. Although he won both races, he put it all together in the Rainbow Derby.
Should Empressum add the All American Derby, he would follow only My Easy Credit in 1977, Dash For Speed in 1988, and DM Shicago in 2005 as Derby Triple Crown win- ners. Two other horses - Heartswideopen in 2008 and Wicked Courage in 2013 - won the first two legs of the Derby Triple Crown, but did not score in the All American Derby.
This will also be the first time that horses will be trying to win the Derby Triple Crown and the All American Triple Crown in the same year, with 2 year old Jess Savin Candy poised for the latter.
“We’re just ecstatic and can’t believe it’s happening,” said Holt. “I remember going out there for years just hoping and praying I could qualify for one. To win two back to back—you don’t even comprehend that.”
Many factors have contributed to Empressum’s improvement, especially the care Holt gives him on his Oklahoma ranch.
Last year, Holt had Dr. Brent Hague at
the Oakridge Veterinary Hospital examine Empressum thoroughly, and as a precaution- ary measure Hague took out a small chip
in the colt’s right front leg. Holt also gelded Empressum, and after Empressum recuperated with Holt, the owner turned him over to trainer Heath Taylor and jockey Rodrigo Vallejo.
Holt praised Taylor and his entire team. He noted that every member of Taylor’s team works hard to ensure that the horses receive superb care.
Holt also liked that Vallejo rides regularly for Taylor. Holt pointed out that Vallejo quali- fied four horses to the Rainbow Derby (all trained by Taylor) and was grateful that the jockey selected Empressum.
“He sits on a horse the way I think they need to be ridden,” stated Holt. “He knows when to get after them, and he knows when to sit on them.”
Holt and Jones have been instrumental
in Empressum since well before his birth. They bred Crazy Down Corona, the dam of Empressum, in a foal-sharing arrangement. Holt owned Crazy Down Corona’s dam, stakes winner Crazy About Corona, and Jones had a share in her sire, First Down Dash.
The partners bred Empressum in Oklahoma. Winner Crazy Down Corona has produced four winners in seven starters, includ- ing stakes-placed Cartel Envy and Lotas First.
Dulce Sin Tacha (Jess Good Candy-Prissy Sin Tacha), owned and bred by Bobby and Jerry Gaston, finished in second for jockey James Flores. The colt in his Championship season last year won the Texas Classic Futurity-G1 and ran second in the All American Juvenile.
Adrian Ramos piloted A Dangerous Flash (First Moonflash-Flame N Flash) to third for trainer Todd Fincher. Joe Dee Brooks, Scott Bryant, and Norman Allen own A Dangerous
Flash, who won the June 12 Ruidoso Invitational Stakes.
Completing the field were Candy
Blood (Apollitical Blood-Ranch Candy), Shott Gun (Valiant Hero-Eye Popping), Apolliticalfastprize (Apollitical Jess-Ms Fast First Prize), Mister Illusion (Tempting Dash- Jess An Illusion), Troubleshooting (Favorite Cartel-Eagle On The Fly), Flash Bak (Moonin The Eagle-Checknbac), and Steal The Candy (Jess Good Candy-She Travels).
RACING NEWS
Empressum’s winning connections include owners/breeders Steve Holt & Jeff Jones, trainer Heath Taylor and jockey Rodrigo Vallejo.
Rodrigo Vallejo celebrates Empressum’s victory.
SPEEDHORSE August 2021 159
Susan Bachelor, Speedhorse Ruidoso Downs