
Angel of Empire
Kentucky Derby Qualifying Points: 154
Trainer: Brad H. Cox
Owner: Albaugh Family Stables LLC
Jockey:
Breeder: Forgotten Land Investment Inc. & Black Diamond Equine Corp. (Kentucky)
Breeding: Classic Empire – Armony’s Angel, by To Honor and Serve
Auction History:
- 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale: Purchased by current owners for $70,000 from Warrendale Sales consignment.
- 2020 Keeneland November Sale: $32,000 RNA
Last Race:
- Won Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park on April 1
Record: 6-4-1-0
Earnings: $1,069,375
Ocala/Marion County Connection:
- Received early training at Barry Berkelhammer’s AbraCadabra Farm, Ocala
Forte
Kentucky Derby Qualifying Points: 190
Trainer: Todd Pletcher (HOF)
Owner: Repole Racing (Mike Repole) and St. Elias Stable (Vincent Viola)
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Breeder: South Gate Farm (Kentucky)
Breeding: Violence – Queen Caroline, by Blame
Auction History:
- 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale: Purchased by Repole Stable and St. Elias for $110,000 from Eaton Sales consignment
- 2020 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale: Purchased by Silver Hill Farm for $80,000 out of Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services consignment
Last Race:
- Won Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park on April 1
Record: 7-6-0-0
Earnings: $2,409,830
Ocala/Marion County Connection:
- Received early training at Ocala Stud
Other Notes:
- Co-owner Vincent Viola is also the owner of the Florida Panthers
Kingsbarns
Kentucky Derby Qualifying Points: 100
Trainer: Todd A. Pletcher (HOF)
Owner: Spendthrift Farm LLC
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Breeder: Parks Investment Group LLC (Kentucky)
Breeding: Uncle Mo – Lady Tapit, by Tapit
Auction History:
- 2022 Fasig-Tipton 2-Year-Old in Training Gulfstream Sale: Purchased by current owners for $800,000 from Tom McCrocklin consignment
- 2021 Fasig-Tipton August Yearling Sale: Purchased by Tom McCrocklin, agent for Champion Equine for $250,000
Last Races: Won the Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds on March 25
Record: 3-3-0-0
Earnings: $657,300
Ocala/Marion County Connection:
- Received early training from Tom McCrocklin, of Ocala.
Lord Miles
**Scratched**
Color Sex: Bay colt
Kentucky Derby Qualifying Points: 105
Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.
Owner: Vegso Racing Stable
Jockey: Paco Lopez
Breeder: Vegso Racing Stable (Kentucky)
Breeding: Curlin – Lady Esme (Fla.), by Majestic Warrior
Auction History: Did not sell at public auction
Last Races:
- Won Wood Memorial (Grade 2) at Aqueduct on April 8
Record: 5-2-0-1
Earnings: $451,100
Ocala/Marion County Connection:
- Owned and bred by Peter Vegso of Ocala
- Dam Lady Esme is a Florida-bred bred by Vegso Racing Stable
Mage
- Purchased by OGMA Investments for $290,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Timonium 2-year-old sale where he was consignmed by Sequel Bloodstock
- Purchased by New Team for $235,000 at Keenleand September Yearling Sale from Runnymede Farm consignment.
Last Races:
- Second to Forte in Florida Derby (Grade 1) at Gulfstream Park on April 1
Record: 3-1-1-0 Earnings: $247,200 Ocala/Marion County Connection:
- Received early training from Becky Thomas at Sequel Bloodstock in Ocala
Practical Move
**Scratched**
Color Sex: bay colt
Kentucky Derby Qualifying Points: 160
Trainer: Tim Yakteen
Owner: Leslie Amestory, Pierre Jean Amestory Jr., Roger K. Beasley
Jockey: Ramon Vazquez
Breeder: Chad Brown and Head of Plains Partners
Breeding: Practical Joke – Ack Naughty, by Afleet Alex (Fla.)
Auction History:
- Purchased by current owners at OBS Spring Sale for $230,000. Consigned by Eisaman Equine.
- $90,000 RNA at Keeneland September Yearling Sale
Last Race:
- Won the Santa Anita Derby (G1) at Santa Anita on April 8
Record: 7-4-1-1
Earnings: $884,200
Ocala/Marion County Connection:
- Received early training and was consigned by Barry Eisaman at his Eisaman Equine in Williston, Fla
Raise Cain
Trainer: Ben Colebrook
Owner: Andrew N. Warren and Rania Warren
Jockey: Gerardo Corrales
Breeder: Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds LLC (Kentucky)
Breeding: Violence – Lemon Belle (Fla.), by Lemon Drop Kid
Auction History:
- 2022 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Open Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training: $65,000 RNA from Eisaman Equine consignment
- 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale: Purchased by Andrew Warren for $180,000 out of Warrendale Sales consignment
Last Race:
- Fifth in Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland on April 8
Record: 7-2-1-1
Earnings: $296,328
Ocala/Marion County Connection:
- Received early training and was consigned by Barry Eisaman at his Eisaman Equine in Williston, Fla. (352) 529-0060
- Dam Lemon Belle was bred in Florida by Gary Seidler and Peter Vegso
Rocket Can
Kentucky Derby Qualifying Points: 60
Trainer: William I. Mott (HOF)
Owner: Frank Fletcher Racing Operations Inc.
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
Breeder: Woodford Thoroughbreds (Kentucky)
Breeding: Into Mischief – Tension, by Tapit
Auction History:
- 2021 Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga Select Yearling Sale: RNA for $245,000 RNA out of Woodford Thoroughbreds consignment
Last Race:
- Fourth in the Arkansas Derby (G1) won by Kingsbarns at Oaklawn Park on April 1
Record: 7-2-2-0
Earnings: $383,413
Ocala/Marion County Connection:
- Received early training at Woodford Thoroughbreds in Ocala, Fla.
Skinner
Color Sex: Bay colt
Kentucky Derby Qualifying Points: 45
Trainer: John Shirreffs
Owner: CRK Stable LLC
Jockey: Juan Hernandez
Breeder: Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holding (Kentucky)
Breeding: Curlin – Winding Way, by Malibu Moon
Auction History:
- 2022 OBS Spring Sale: Purchased by Mayberry Farm for $510,000 from de Meric Sales consignment
- 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale: Purchased for $40,000 by First Finds out of Warrendale Sales consignment
Last Races:
- Third in the Santa Anita Derby (Grade 1) won by Practical Move at Santa Anita on April 8
Record: 6-1-0-3
Earnings: $216,300
Ocala/Marion County Connection:
- Received early training from Nick and Jaqui de Meric at their Manuden Farm in Ocala
Sun Thunder
Kentucky Derby Qualifying Points: 54
Trainer: Kenneth G. McPeek
Owner: R.T. Racing Stable and Cypress Creek Equine
Jockey: Brain Hernandez Jr.
Breeder: Southern Equine Stables LLC (Kentucky)
Breeding: Into Mischief – Greenfield d’Oro, by Medaglia d’Oro
Auction History:
- 2021 Fasig Tipton New York Saratoga Select Yearling Sale: RNA for $495,000 at where he was consigned by Bluewater Sales
- 2020 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Mixed Sale: Purchased by Jess Amorella as agent at the for $400,000 out of the Bluewater Sales consignment
Last Race:
- Fourth in the Blue Grass (Grade 1) won by Tapit Trice at Keeneland on April 8
Record: 6-1-1-1
Earnings: $247,500
Ocala/Marion County Connection:
- Received early training at trainer Ken McPeek’s Silverleaf Hills Training Center in Summerfield.
Tapit Trice
Kentucky Derby Qualifying Points: 150
Trainer: Todd A. Pletcher (HOF)
Owner: Whisper Hill Farm LLC and Gainesway Stable (Anthony Beck)
Jockey: Luis Saez
Breeder: Gainesway Thoroughbreds Ltd. (Kentucky)
Breeding: Tapit – Danzatrice, by Dunkirk
Auction History:
- 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale: Purchased for $1.3 million by Whisper Hill Farm from Gainesway consignment
Last Race:
- Won the Toyota Blue Grass (Grade 1) at Keeneland on April 8.
Record: 5-4-0-1
Earnings: $883,650
Ocala/Marion County Connection:
- Trained at Whisper Hill Training Center, Citra Florida
Two Phil's
Kentucky Derby Qualifying Points: 123
Trainer: Larry Rivelli
Owner: Patricia Hope LLC and Phillip Sagan
Jockey: Jareth Loveberry
Breeder: Phillip Sagan (Kentucky)
Breeding: Hard Spun – Mia Torri (Fla), by General Quarters
Auction History:
- 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale: $150,000 RNA out of the Ballysax Bloodstock consignment
Last Race:
- Won Jeff Ruby Steaks (Grade 3) at Turfway Park on March 25
Record: 10-4-4-1
Earnings: $374,720
Ocala/Marion County Connection:
- Out of the Florida-bred mare Mia Torri, who was bred by Shadybrook Farm Inc.
Verifying
Kentucky Derby Qualifying Points: 54
Trainer: Brad H. Cox
Owner: Westerburg, Mrs. John Magnier, Jonathan Poulin, Derrick Smith and Michael B. Tabor
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
Breeder: Hunter Valley and Mountmellick Farm LLC
Breeding: Justify – Diva Delinte (Fla), by Repent
Auction History:
- 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale: Purchased by M.V. Magnier for $775,000 from Hunter Valley Farm consignment
Last Race:
- Second to Tapit Trice in the Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland on April 8
Record: 6-2-2-0
Earnings: $489,900
Ocala/Marion County Connection:
- Received early training from David Scanlon at Scanlon Training and Sales near Williston
- Out of the Florida-bred mare Diva Delite bred by Clover Leaf Farms II Inc.
UPDATE – 05.05.2023

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