Taylor Made Stallions’ Angel of Empire, winner of the Arkansas Derby (G1) and a millionaire son of Eclipse Champion Classic Empire, sired his first reported foal on Saturday, Jan. 17, when a filly out of the Mr. Greeley mare Lova Ava Love was born at Taylor Made. The filly was bred by Brooks Taylor. Love Ava Love is out of the stakes-winning Storm Cat mare Hidden Cat—her second dam is multiple Canadian champion and Horse of the Year Alywow—and she is a half-sister to stakes winners Global Power and Pegasusbystorm.
Angel of Empire, racing for Albaugh Family Stables and trained by Brad Cox, competed exclusively in stakes at three. He won the 2023 Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park by 4 ¼ lengths. He entered the Arkansas Derby following a decisive win in that year’s Risen Star S. (G2) at Fair Grounds in his graded stakes debut, defeating subsequent Kentucky Derby (G1) runner-up Two Phil’s.
Sent off as the race favorite in the 149th Kentucky Derby, Angel of Empire finished a fast-closing third, earning a career-best 104 Beyer Speed Figure. All told, Angel of Empire hit the board in 7-of-9 lifetime starts, banking more than $1.4 million. His dam, Armony Angel, by To Honor and Serve, sold for $1.8 million at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Mixed Sale in 2023.
For more information on Angel of Empire, who stands for $5,000 S&N, contact Travis White at (859) 396-3508, or Brock Martin at (859) 881-6148, or visit www.taylormadestallions.com.
