Sent only as a far second choice to overwhelming favorite Cover Girl and coupled entry West Bound, Empire King responded well to new partner Antonio Alcasid’s riding style, losing steam at the top of the stretch but fighting back mightily in the last 100 meters to nip Cover Girl in another down-to-the-wire finish that has been the trademark of their past duels.
Alcasid, a veteran rider who took over the reins from Empire King’s regular partner Jaja Ladiana, steered the four-year-old champion horse to third-fourth places in the early going of the one-mile race then made his move when Cover Girl, a noted stayer, started to move in at the backstretch. — Ramon Romualdez