Empressum (inside) is moved to first after Jeriko (#3) is DQ'd for interference in the $100,000 Go Man Go Handicap on Sunday at Los Alamitos.
© William Zuazo
LOS ALAMITOS, CA–AUGUST 25, 2024–The photo finish of a tremendous racing duel in the Grade 1, $100,000 Go Man Go Handicap between Bobby Cox's Jeriko and Steven Holt and Jeff Jones' Empressum revealed that Jeriko had hit the wire first on Sunday night at Los Alamitos
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Then the inquiry sign lit up on the Los Alamitos toteboard and eventually the announcement was made that Jeriko had disqualified from first and placed seventh after interfering with Louisiana star Tha Duke during the running of the Go Man Go at 400 yards.
Jeriko's disqualification resulted in Empressum being moved up from second to first in the Go Man Go, giving the 2022 AQHA World Champion his second victory in this race and his eighth graded stakes victory in his career at Los Alamitos.
It was bittersweet result for trainer Heath Taylor, as he saddled Jeriko, Empressum and also Tha Duke in the Go Man Go.
"I haven't seen any of the replays at all," Taylor said in the winner's circle. "It's unfortunate for (Jeriko). This race serves as the alternate for the Champion of Champions. This is a lot more than just the purse. It's a potential berth to the Champion of Champions. The horse is going to lose from a disqualification so it's a big decision. He's an improving horse. He's a 440 horse. I haven't had a chance to review it yet. The rider of (Tha Duke), which is another horse of mine, Jesus Rios Ayala said that he was impeded quite a bit and said it bother his horse quite a bit. He said he was really trying to make a run and they stopped the horse. It was unfortunate for him. Lucky enough to have the ability to have first and second in this race so the other horse (Empressum) got elevated and ran a really good race."
With this victory, Empressum, who had already earned a presumptive berth to the Grade 1 Champion of Champions thanks to his win in the Grade 1 Vessels Maturity last month, earned $55,000 to take his career earnings to $2,138,623.
Now with 24 wins from 34 career starts, Empressum's earnings move him ahead of the legendary Refrigerator, who retired in December of 1995 with $2,126,309 in earnings and with 23 wins from 37 lifetime outings.
Heza Dasha Fire, Jess You And I, Go Derussa Go, and Duplicate Copy have won the Go Man Go in back-to-back years. Empressum is only the third horse in the 64-year history of the Go Man Go to win this race twice, but not in consecutive years. Charger Bar won the Go Man Go in 1971 and 1974, while Whosleaving won the Go Man Go in 2002 and then in 2005.
Champion jockey Rodrigo Vallejo piloted Empressum. The final time for this race was 19.557. "(Rodrigo) said that (Empressum) stepped back a little bit right when they opened the gate. He missed the break a little bit while the one (Edberg Verde) left exceptionally. He said that he slipped and really didn't break that well, Empressum. He was behind. Anytime you can get a win in a Grade 1 race you have to be blessed. Unfortunately, you take the circumstances for everyone involved because the other horses run super good races."
A silver lining for Jericho's camp is that, once again, he has shown that he can compete with the best Quarter Horses in the world.
"He's a young horse," Taylor said. "He's starting to mature and gain a lot of weight. He's a legitimate 440-yard horse and I think the further he goes the better he'll get. He's just coming into his own. There's potential and upside with the horse. This (a disqualification) is a part of racing that no one enjoys or likes. You just have to 21-years-old, accept it and live to fight another day.
"Obviously, this is good for Empressum. He continues to run super good races. We trained him light for this race and kind of saved him for the end of the year. Maybe we didn't have him as tight as he could, but they ran a nice time. Anytime you win these kind of races, it's a nice feather on his cap."
The next major Grade 1 race for this division is the Robert Boniface Los Alamitos Invitational Championship in early October. One can expect Jeriko to be among the top runners in action in this race.
"As long as the horses as healthy, I'm sure both (Empressum and Jeriko) will be nominated," Taylor said. "We'll see how they look and how they're doing and we'll go from there."
Link Newcomb's Cattail Cove, who benefited from a clean journey while running a very professional race, was moved up to second in his 48th career start. The 7-year-old by Favorite Cartel earned $22,500 for the win, taking his career earnings to $716,870. Martin Arriaga piloted Cattail Cove for trainer Juan Aleman.
Mauro Eli Zaborowsky's Edberg Verde, the richest Brazilian racehorse of all time, earned $12,500 for his third-place finish in the Go Man Go. Paul Jones trains the No Secrets Here horse. Henry Reynoso Lopez piloted Edberg Verde.
Ed and Von Zae McNelis' Scoops Dynasty, the winner of this race last year, broke slow and never threatened the front of the pack. He was moved up to fourth following the DQ.
Required First, That Duke and Jeriko completed the official order of finish.
For additional information for breeding contract call Royal Vista Ranch farm manager Laura Erickson at (405) 449-7575.
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