The former AQHA Racing World Champion secured his 12th career Grade 1 win and a berth to the 2026 Champion of Champions after a victory in the Debbie Schauf Remington Park Invitational.

© Emily Paulk, StallioneSearch

By Greg Thompson, StallioneSearch

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—JUNE 1, 2026—Empressum took another major step toward a historic career finale by winning the Debbie Schauf Remington Park Invitational(G1) on Saturday night at Remington Park. By virtue of this narrow victory, Empressum has clinched a coveted berth into the 2026 Champion of Champions(G1) at Los Alamitos this December.

The former AQHA Racing World Champion overcame a slow start and a winless 2025 season to deliver a determined late rally under jockey Rodrigo Vallejo in the final strides. The 8-year-old gelding edged out millionaire rival KJ Desparado by a nose in an exciting blanket finish that saw the top four runners separated by only a head at the wire.

Empressum stopped the clock at 21.307 seconds over a fast track, earning a 105 speed index and a winner’s share of $144,300.

“With this win, he’s tied Danjer at the top with 12 Grade 1 wins in his career,” said co-owner Steve Holt. “As I’ve mentioned to you before, he doesn’t owe anybody anything moving forward, and we will stop running him if he shows even the slightest issue. We will send him down to Dr. Hays in Elgin, Texas, to have him looked over before continuing with him for the race in this year's campaign.”

Bred and owned by Jeff Jones and Steve Holt in Oklahoma, Empressum is a son of leading sire Apollitical Jess out of the First Down Dash mare Crazy Down Corona. Trained by Fernando Manriquez, he is now poised for another shot at the Champion of Champions, a race in which he already boasts two prior titles.

Empressum has lit the board 37 of 42 starts with 26 victories, including 14 in graded stakes competition. His career earnings now exceed $2.7-million, placing him as one of the sport’s most decorated and tenacious veterans.

“We haven’t really made any decisions just yet on how to get him there with a chance to win in the Champion of Champions(G1),” said Holt. “In the past, I have usually liked to work backward for the targeted race, and I imagine that we will do the same with him after he comes back from Dr. Hays with a clean bill of health.”

For now, the focus shifts to ensuring the veteran star remains sound and ready for one final championship campaign. With his berth secured and another Grade 1 trophy added to his résumé, Empressum remains firmly on track for a potential December showdown at Los Alamitos.

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