Classic Empire: Road to the Kentucky Derby

Classic Empire winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile

I Do not own this video, it is from the Breeders' Cup World Championships official youtube channel

             With all the amazing two year olds this year, it looks like we are going to have a very competitive field for the 2017 Kentucky Derby (g. I), but my current pick is the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (g. I) champion, Classic Empire. Being on a similar cross to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, Classic Empire's name suits his Classic pedigree and his race record speaks for itself, being undefeated in every race he completed.

              The recent downgrading of grade one races has left trainers of derby hopefuls in a dilemma considering two major Kentucky Derby preps, the Toyota Blue Grass (g. II) and the Wood Memorial (g. II) have lost their grade one status. In a recent BloodHorse article, it was pointed out by trainer Mark Casse and owner John Oxley that Classic Empire will be using two prep races for the Kentucky Derby, the first being either the Holy Bull stakes (g. II) Feb. 4 or the March. 4 Fountain of Youth Stakes (g. II), although he could potentially run in both with there being a one month gap, but I don't think that's likely. The 1 1/8 mile Toyota Blue Grass stakes at Keeneland was the original choice for Classic Empire's final derby prep but with the downgrade, the April. 1 Fountain of Youth Stakes (g. I) is becoming a consideration to add another g. I to his resume. One of the only factors causing the colt's connections to stick to the Blue Grass is that, according to Casse, the son of Pioneerof The Nile like's the track at Keeneland.

             What the Classic Empire team decide to do will be seen when the time comes, as for now, the colt has not returned to the work tab after his Breeders' Cup victory. Hopefully, he comes back as a stronger three year old, because one thing that concerned me was Casse's statement saying that Classic Empire came out of his last start tired. The other horses I like for the derby are Practical Joke(Into Mischief), trained by Chad Brown, and McCraken(Ghostzapper), trained by Ian Wilkes.