Breeder, owner, and trainer Carl Anderson, who recently saddled his 200th career winner, was again in the spotlight when his promising Emperorofthecats outran rivals to win the $1.14-million Ash Wednesday Trophy feature on Wednesday, February 22, 2023.

Well-ridden by claiming apprentice Shavon Townsend, Emperorofthecats (Emperor Hall–Laws of the Cat) turned on the pressure in deep stretch and easily won the Overnight Allowance contest for three year olds and upward over six and a half furlongs (1,300m) by three lengths.

“We get him [Emperorofthecats] out early in the mornings and give him his regular workout and track exercise.

“He worked brilliantly in his last gallop, and I was very surprised that he went 1:13.0 for six furlongs, and so coming into this race, it was a matter of getting him to break well and taking it from there on,” Anderson said.

Running with the tongue-tie and figure-8 off, Emperorofthecats broke off well at the start in second place behind Eagle One (Robert Halledeen) down the backstretch. The four-year-old bay gelding, who was riding the inside rails, surged to the front of the field as they approached the half-mile (800m) and began to open up, navigating the turn ahead of Eagle One, Nuclear Noon (Tevin Foster), and Money Monster (Reyan Lewis).

Turning for home, both Nuclear Noon, on the outside, and Money Monster, on the inside rails, tried to challenge Emperorofthecats but the fleet-footed runner found extra and powered home in a time of 1:19.1. Finishing second was Money Monster, and finishing third was Nuclear Noon.

“I took the tongue-tie off, and it was the first time he was running without it for a while, and so I was thinking he may come back to the field, so I was hoping that he would follow through. After the work, I said, ‘Let me take my chances and see what happens’.

“Once he passed the two furlongs on his way to the furlong pole, I knew that if he was stopping, he would still continue and end up passing the winning post in front,” Anderson said.

Anderson, who had reached his 200th winner on February 11 with the promising three-year-old Secret Admiral, was overjoyed with the historic achievement.

“I am very, very excited to have won 200 races as a trainer; the only thing is that I thought it would have arrived sooner because I was hoping to achieve that last year, but the horses went sour on me. But give thanks; it is an achievement, and I appreciate it,” Anderson told The Supreme Racing Guide.