Taylor Made Stallions' Angel of Empire , winner of the Arkansas Derby (G1) and a millionaire son of 2016 champion 2-year-old male Classic Empire, sired his first reported foal Jan. 17, when a filly out of the Mr. Greeley mare Love Ava Love was born at Taylor Made Farm. The filly was bred by Brooks Taylor.
Love Ava Love is out of the stakes-winning Storm Cat mare Hidden Cat, making her a half sister to stakes winners Global Power and Pegasusbystorm. Hidden Cat is out of multiple Canadian champion and 1994 Horse of the Year Alywow.
Angel of Empire, racing for Albaugh Family Stables and trained by Brad Cox, broke his maiden first time out at 2. At 3, he won the 2023 Risen Star Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots and captured the Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park by 4 1/4 lengths.
Sent off as the race favorite in the Kentucky Derby (G1), Angel of Empire finished a fast-closing third, earning a career-best 104 Beyer Speed Figure. His final career start was a third in the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) behind 2022 champion 2-year-old male Forte and Saudi Crown. Angel of Empire retired with a 4-1-2 record from nine lifetime starts, banked more than $1.48 million. His dam, Armony's Angel (To Honor and Serve), sold for $1.8 million at Fasig-Tipton's 2023 The November Sale.
Angel of Empire stands at Taylor Made for $5,000.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
