An off-the-pace runner, Angel of Empire displayed a terrific turn of foot in the Arkansas Derby (G1), surging from sixth to reach the lead by the top of the stretch, and the up-and-coming colt established himself as a serious Kentucky Derby contender while notching his first triple-digit Brisnet Speed rating (101). After a non-threatening second in his stakes debut, the Smarty Jones on New Year’s Day, Angel of Empire progressed with a hard-fought win in the Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds in mid-February. The bay sophomore may have to negotiate traffic in a 20-horse Kentucky Derby field, but Angel of Empire appears to be peaking at the right time of the year and his late punch can’t be dismissed.

Read the rest of Angel of Empire's analysis by James Scully on TwinSpires...

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