Classic Empire

Classic Empire won the first two races of his career, both at Churchill Downs. The latter was a hard-fought victory in the Grade 3 Bashford Manor Stakes. He subsequently dumped his rider at the start of the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, but Classic Empire bounced back to win the Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity in October at Keeneland to punch his ticket to the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

In the Juvenile, Classic Empire stalked pacesetter Syndergaard, took command entering the stretch, and had enough under Julien Leparoux to outlast Not This Time at the finish. His connections said after the race that their long-range goal is the 2017 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands. After the 2016 season, Classic Empire was named the Eclipse Award winner as champion 2-year-old male.

Classic Empire returned in the Holy Bull Stakes for his 3-year-old debut and finished third behind Irish War Cry and Delta Downs Jackpot winner Gunnevera. He then encountered some minor maladies that prevented him from training, inclduing a back issue that made him reluctant to exert himself, but trainer Mark Casse got him back on track in time for the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby. In that race, he closed determinedly to take control in the final sixteenth of a mile for a victory that punched his ticket to the Kentucky Derby.

Classic Empire had a troubled trip in the Derby and finished fourth after being bumped hard at the start. He proceeded to the Preakness, where he had the lead in mid-stretch but was caught late by Cloud Computing and finished second.

Out of the Cat Thief mare Sambuca Classica, Classic Empire is a half-brother to a pair of stakes winners.