Empire Maker Drills Sharp 6 Furlongs at Hollywood

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Juddmonte Farms' promising 3-year-old Empire Maker worked six furlongs in 1:12 4/5 at Hollywood Park Saturday morning, in preparation for his first start of the year, the 1 1/8-mile Sham Stakes on Feb. 7.

Empire Maker, a son of Unbridled out of Toussaud broke his maiden by 3 1/2 lengths going a mile at Belmont Park on Oct. 20, then finished an excellent third in the nine-furlong Remsen Stakes after a horrible start.

"He's doing very well," Frankel said. "They got him galloping out seven furlongs in 1:25 and change and pulling up a mile in about 1:40. After the Sham, I may run him in the Florida Derby, because the timing of that race is good for the Wood Memorial, and I don't want to cut back in distance."

Frankel is already getting calls asking for his reaction to Jerry Bailey being named as rider for the unbeaten Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Vindication. Bailey has ridden Empire Maker in both his starts, and has been effusive in his praise for the colt.

"I have no problem with it, and I'm not worrying about it," Frankel said. "(Bailey's agent Ron Anderson) called me last night and said it's just day to day. So, we'll see what happens. I'm not upset."

Other 3-year-olds working for Frankel Saturday were multiple stakes winner Peace Rules, who went five furlongs in 1:00 2/5, and the promising Touch Gold colt Midas Eyes, who worked six furlongs in 1:13 1/5. Frankel said Midas Eyes will make his 3-year-old debut in an allowance race in mid-February. He and Empire Make likely will work in company next week.

Frankel said Peace Rules coughed a little after the work, and he was to have him scoped to see if he bled. "We've had a lot of sick horses," Frankel said.

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