Empire King tops Sta Lucia Cup

Top pick Empire King nipped Speed Advantage in a thrilling photo-finish to cop the fifth Sta.Lucia Cup before a big Sunday crowd at the Sta. Ana Park yesterday.

The many-time stakes race champion grabbed the lead from Speed Advantage as they swung for home, lost it again down the stretch but unleashed a stronger finishing kick to edge the second favorite at the wire.

Empire King covered the 1,600-meter event in 1:40 with quartertimes of 24’-24-23-28’. The win was worth P300,000 for the Lee stables. — Ramon Romualdez