Page 164 - December 2021

RACING NEWS
Texas Classic Derby-G1
EMPRESSUM
by Michael Compton
Empressum continues to impress. The
fast son of Apollitical Jess has enjoyed a stellar 2021 campaign, winning three Grade
1 derbies this season in his 3-year-old year, including the Rainbow Derby-G1 and the Ruidoso Derby-G1. He all but secured year- end championship honors with another facile victory, this one in the Texas Classic Derby-G1 at Lone Star Park on Nov. 27.
With regular rider Rodrigo Vallejo aboard, Empressum, the 2-5 wagering favorite, raced in fourth position early in the 440-yard test. He inhaled the early leaders in the lane and under a stiff drive late, proved best in a determined effort, defeating B Cause Im A Hero by a length at the finish over a sloppy (sealed) track. Empressum’s final time of :21.030 lowered
the 2013 track record of :21.075 set by Jody Pops Zoomer, and the final clocking earned Empressum, the race’s fastest qualifier from the Nov. 5 trials, a speed index of 108.
Lone Star Park
$393,416 • 440 yards :21.030 • si 108 • NTR
APOLLITICAL JESS
si 107
Bred by: Juan Alberto Tirado Lizarraga
Raced to 3 • $1,399,831 14-8(2)-4(2)-0
1,057 f., 97 SW • $46,507,136
MR JESS PERRY si 113 Bred by: Jesse Perry Raced to 4 • $687,187 21-12(5)-2(1)-0
1,947 f., 157 SW • $59,457,054
Bred by: Jeff Jones & Steve Holt
Raced to 3 $1,032,129 17-13(4)-0-0
APOLLITICAL TIME si 104 Bred by: Vessels Stallion Farm LLC
Raced to 6 • $904,242 35-14(10)-7(2)-5(4)
12 f., 1 SW • $1,526,756
CRAZY DOWN CORONA
si 96
Bred by: Steve A. Holt Raced to 3 • $73,162 6-2-1-0
8 f., 1 SW • $1,131,346
FIRST DOWN DASH si 105 Bred by: A F Stanley Jr/B F Phillips Jr
Raced to 3 • $ 857,256 15-13(8)-1(1)-0
2,513 f., 258 SW • $89,606,718
CRAZY ABOUT CORONA si 100 Bred by: Ginger & Rainy Graham Raced to 3 • $ 90,252 16-7(1)-2(1)-2(2)
12 f., 1 SW • $436,807
162 SPEEDHORSE December 2021
Empressum and jockey Rodrigo Vallejo win the $393,416 Texas Classic Derby-G1.
Dustin Orona Photography
EMPRESSUM, ‘18 g.