Friday, February 03 2012

Soaring Empire Breezes for Likely Start in Donn Handicap

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL - Ol Memorial Stables and C.E. Glasscock’s 5-year-old Soaring Empire breezed five furlongs in 1:01 flat Friday morning at Gulfstream Park, and trainer Cam Gambolati confirmed him as a probable starter in the $500,000 Donn Handicap (G1) to be run Saturday Feb. 11 at 1 1/8 miles.

A son of Empire Maker, Soaring Empire finished fourth Jan. 14 behind Jackson Bend in the Hal’s Hope Stakes (G3) going one mile over the track in his first start since winning the Majestic Light Stakes going 1 1/16 miles at Monmouth Park on July 31. He made a bold bid to the lead in mid-stretch of the Hal’s Hope before giving under jockey Julien Leparoux, who will have the mount in the Donn.