Breeders' Cup Glorious Empire Wires G1 Sword Dancer August 25, 2018 Breeders' Cup Glorious Empire Wires G1 Sword Dancer August 25, 2018 By: Curtis "Magic" Kalleward twitteremail Share: share on facebook share on twitter share on linkedin email this article SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – Matthew Schera’s Glorious Empire broke like a rocket from the gate and never looked back en route to wiring the field of 10 older males in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1,000,000 Sword Dancer Stakes at Saratoga. The Sword Dancer is a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” event, with Glorious Empire receiving an automatic berth in the Longines Turf at Churchill Downs on Saturday, November 3. Shooting sharply from his rail-drawn post under Julien Leparoux, Glorious Empire set a fast opening 1/4-mile in :23.16 before slowing it down and coasting uncontested through fractions of :48.18, 1:13.88, and 1:38.82 for the opening mile. Still lacking pressure from the second-place runner Channel Maker as he straightened for home, Glorious Empire had more than enough left in the tank to outfinish the field, crossing the wire with a lengthy advantage in a final time of 2:24.41 for the 1 1/2-mile turf marathon. “He traveled very good for me, and he’s got that kick, you know, and at the end, he just exploded,” Leparoux said. “He obviously loves the track. He won two here this year and one last year. The first 1/4 (mile) was fast, but he settled very nicely and picked up the pace pretty quickly.” Channel Maker continued on well for second, finishing well ahead of a late-running Spring Quality, who edged Hi Happy for third. Highland Sky took fifth past the 2/1 favorite Sadler’s Joy and Funtastic, while Bigger Picture, Seahenge, and Revved Up completed the order of finish. Glorious Empire’s win was his second straight in a graded event, following a score in the Grade 2 Bowling Green Stakes, and his third straight overall while increasing his record to 23-9-0-3. The James Lawrence-trained and Irish-bred 7-year-old gelded son of Holy Roman Emperor has now earned $852,147 in his career. “I’m trying to get my voice back,” Lawrence said. “We knew this horse had this kind of talent, it was just a matter of getting it to come out.” Glorious Empire returned $33.40 to win, $14.40 to place, and $9.80 to show. Channel Maker brought back $8.20 to place and $5.30 to show, while Spring Quality paid $4.70 to show.
Kentucky Downs and Del Mar Picks & Previews | Blinkers Off 683 The Racing Dudes preview and give picks for this weekend’s… Read More
Kentucky Downs Pick 5 Preview | The Magic Mike Show 565 The Magic Mike Show guys preview & give their tickets… Read More
College Football Picks & NFL Tips | Dudes Who Bet Sports 205 Aaron & Papa Dude give their College Football picks for… Read More
Pacific Classic 2024 Picks and Rapid-Fire | Blinkers Off 682 The Racing Dudes preview and give picks for Saturday’s $1… Read More
Del Mar Pick 5 Preview | The Magic Mike Show 564 The Magic Mike Show guys preview & give their tickets… Read More
Kentucky Downs Picks | Turf Sprint Stakes 2024 [Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint] Aaron previews the 2024 Turf Sprint Stakes (G2) at Kentucky… Read More
Kentucky Downs FREE Win Picks | September 7, 2024 Get our FREE win picks at Kentucky Downs on September… Read More
Del Mar FREE Win Picks | September 7, 2024 Get our FREE win picks at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club… Read More
Kentucky Downs Exacta Picks & Plays | Turf Cup Stakes 2024 [Breeders’ Cup Turf] Dr. Miranda gives her exacta picks & plays from the… Read More
Rocket Picks 🚀: Del Mar, Kentucky Downs, & Gulfstream Park for September 7, 2024 Let’s kick off another big day of horse racing with… Read More