Preview Racing


Empressum, Instygator Headline Friday’s Texas Classic Derby Trials
Two-time Grade 1 winner at Ruidoso this summer Empressum is among 48 3-year-olds slated for Friday’s 440-yard Texas Classic Derby (G1) trials at Lone Star Park.

© Ernesto Salinas / StallioneSearch
Empressum, Instygator Headline Friday’s Texas Classic Derby Trials

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

GRAND PRAIRIE, TX—NOVEMBER 1, 2021—Forty-eight 3-year-olds, headed by Grade 1 winners Empressum and Instygator, are entered in Friday’s 440-yard Texas Classic Derby (G1) trials at Lone Star Park.

A homebred son of world champion Apollitical Jess trained by Heath Taylor for owners Jeff Jones and Steve Holt, Empressum has earned $788,685 from eight races this season, and he is coming off of a Ruidoso Downs summer campaign during which he won the first two legs of the All American Derby Triple Crown, the 400-yard, $673,000 Ruidoso Derby (G1) in June, and the 440-yard, $678,000 Rainbow Derby (G1) in July.

Empressum drew post 2 and will be ridden by Rodrigo Vallejo in the last of six trials.

All American Derby(G1) winner Instygator ended Empressum's Triple Crown bid in Ruidoso last September.
© Ernesto Salinas / StallioneSearch
Instygator races for Barboza Racing Corp. from the barn of trainer Santos Carrizales Jr. The Ivory James gelding has won seven of 11 starts and has earned $1,268,239, and his three wins in four races at the classic 440-yard trip include a 1 1/4-length victory in the September 5, $929,000 All American Derby (G1) at Ruidoso Downs.

Instygator ended his juvenile season with a second-place finish, a nose behind winner Dulce Sin Tacha, in the 400-yard, $1.031-million Texas Classic Futurity (G1) at Lone Star Park. The gelding drew post 2 and will be ridden by Juan Pulido in the second heat.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will meet in the November 27, $400,000-est. Texas Classic Derby final.

The Texas Classic Derby trials, and all Lone Star Park races, can be seen at Q-RacingVideo.com.