Empressum, Whistle Stop Café enter trials for All American Derby and Oaks at Ruidoso Downs
Ruidoso and Rainbow Derby champ Empressum, a three-year-old gelding with six consecutive wins, has been entered in trials next Sunday for the $929,225 All American Derby as number-six in the eighth race of the day.
Empressum has not lost in 2021. The gelding won the Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park in April before the two grade-I wins here this summer along with setting a track record at 400-yards at Ruidoso Downs. Empressum has ten career wins in thirteen starts for owners Jeff Jones and Steve Holt with earnings of $790,491. Jockey Rodrigo Vallejo has been named to ride for trainer Heath Taylor.
The $439,884 All American Oaks features last year’s All American Futurity winner Whistle Stop Café, who will be number-eight in the second race.
The filly remains undefeated in eight career starts including a win in the Rainbow Oaks earlier this season. She is owned by Lainie Whitmire (Whitmire Ranch) and trained by Trey Wood. Jockey Tanner Thedford will ride the filly who is expected to be retired following her appearance in the All American Oaks with previous earnings of $2,137,019.
There will be eight All American Derby trial races and four All American Oaks trials starting at Noon next Sunday.