Kentucky Derby 2023: Albaugh family has 1 in, 2 on standby

Jason Loutsch, racing manager for Albaugh Family Stables, knows he has a strong hand for Kentucky Derby 2023. He still does not know how strong.

Loutsch is confident Arkansas Derby winner Angel of Empire poses a legitimate threat to favored Forte. He hopes to have at least one, and possibly two, more starters to throw at the streaking 2-year-old champion, a winner of five consecutive starts.

With the 20th berth on Churchill Downs’ Kentucky Derby leaderboard awarded to Continuar, who qualified through Japan’s Road to the Derby, Albaugh finds itself in the unusual position of having two horses on the outside looking in.

Jace’s Road, most recently third in the Louisiana Derby, ranks 21st with 45 qualifying points and $200,350 in non-restricted stakes earnings. Cyclone Mischief, third in the Fountain of Youth (G2) and the Florida Derby (G1), sits 23rd, also with 45 qualifying points and $137,525 in non-restricted stakes earnings.

The suspense is intense for the Iowa-based operation. “We can’t get to Kentucky soon enough, I’ll tell you that,” said Loutsch.

Albaugh has an impressive record when it comes to finding colts capable of running for the roses. If all three should reach the gate, it would give Albaugh eight Derby starters since 2013. Most operations yearn for one starter – and fall short.

Loutsch feels confident that Albaugh – the pride of family patriarch Dennis – will present at least double trouble in the Derby’s 149th edition. “I don’t want to wish bad on anyone. I’m excited we have one in the race,” he said. “Just from the history of the Derby, I think Jace will wind up getting in. There is always somebody who does not run or feels they can’t compete.”

With still-maturing youngsters being pushed hard to be at their best on the first Saturday in May, pre-race injuries are common and sometimes alter the makeup of the field significantly. Given that Cyclone Mischief is more accomplished than Jace’s Road, might it make sense for Jace’s Road to be pointed in another direction such as the May 20 Preakness?

It is not nearly that simple. For one thing, 22nd-ranked Skinner, third in the Santa Anita Derby, stands in the way. And Jace’s Road is owned in partnership with West Point Thoroughbreds, which aspires to make the Derby annually.

“If we owned 100 percent of him, we’d think about it,” Loutsch said of Jace’s Road. “But it’s not so, so we don’t even think about it.” He emphasized how much he values West Point as a partner.

Cyclone Mischief is owned in partnership with Castleton Lyons and is trained by veteran Dale Romans, a Louisville native still chasing his dream of winning the Derby. The connections would like nothing more than for the son of Into Mischief to give them a triple threat after he acquitted himself well against Forte in his last two starts, both at Gulfstream Park.

“Cyclone can definitely compete,” Loutsch said. “He’s run against Forte twice, and that last race he really closed the gap.”

Fans will likely see Cyclone Mischief compete on Derby Day one way or another. The backup plan calls for the Pat Day Mile, an eagerly-anticipated race on the undercard. “At the end of the day, I think his best distance will be a one-turn mile,” Loutsch said.

If Angel of Empire should be the lone Albaugh standard-bearer, the owners would be comfortable with that. “We couldn’t be more excited about the way he’s progressing coming in. He keeps getting better and better. We think he can get the mile and a quarter,” Loutsch noted. “We’re cautiously optimistic we can have some excitement.”

If all three should compete, Loutsch emphasized that there would be no strategizing to enhance the chances of clearly their best hope, Angel of Empire, who is trained by Brad Cox and will be ridden by Flavien Prat. Jace’s Road also is trained by Cox.

“Every horse deserves a chance. We’re just not going to do that. It would not be fair to the horse or the other owners,” said Loutsch, whose agonizing wait cannot end soon enough.