PROFILE
| Foaled: | February 20, 2020 |
|---|---|
| Breeder: | TFVM Farm LLC & Laurie Lukas & Robert Ghent |
| Color/Sex: | Gray/Colt |
| Sire: | Empire Maker |
| Dam: | Bluejeans |
| Dam Sire: | Ghostzapper |
| Trainer: | Brad Cox |
HORSE OVERVIEW
A pedigree tailor made for the American Classics. With two Belmont Stakes winners and a Breeders’ Cup Classic winner on the page, this Brad Cox trainee was simply too intriguing to pass up.
MyRacehorse purchased this beautiful looking son of Belmont Stakes winner and extremely influential stallion, Empire Maker, for $240,000 on the first night of the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale of Selected Yearlings. The gray colt exhibited all the signs you want to see in a classic looking horse when presented to our team back at the barn: a long striding walk, great mind, and a physique that screams two-turns. His impressive pedigree which boasts a perfect combination of speed and stamina through Empire Maker and broodmaresire Ghostzapper (2004 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner and Horse of the Year), also includes Belmont Stakes winner Palace Malice and Hollywood Gold Cup winner Rail Trip. Coupled with his physical, the colt was a must have for our team in our efforts to get back to another Kentucky Derby.
Speaking of which…
Fasig-Tipton Select Six Bonus
This colt comes with a $2 million bonus designed specifically for horses purchased by MRH at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale of Selected Yearlings. If this colt were to win the Kentucky Derby shareholders would be paid a $2 million bonus ($200/share prior to fees).
Breeding Insights
Empire Maker was as legendary in the breeding shed as he was on the racetrack. “Empire Maker is the best horse I have ever trained,” the late Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel was quoted as saying during the colt’s star-studded racing career. Empire Maker was a Classic winner and the only 3-year-old colt of his generation to win three Grade 1 races: the Belmont Stakes, Florida Derby, and Wood Memorial. He is the best son of a sire of sires, the great Unbridled.
As a stallion he stood in both Kentucky and Japan, and produced 12 Grade 1 winners including Pioneerof the Nile, whose son American Pharoah ended a 37 year Triple Crown drought, Bodemeister (who sired 2017 Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming), and champion mare Royal Delta, a two-time Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner, multiple Eclipse Award champion, Hall of Fame inductee, and six-time Grade 1 winner.
Empire Maker did particularly well with his female progeny and among his superior daughters — in addition to Royal Delta — are Emollient, Grace Hall, and Mushka, who each surpassed $1 million in earnings during their racing careers. Empire Maker is also recognized as a significant broodmare sire. His influential reach also stamps him as the grandsire of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, champion 2-year-old Classic Empire, and Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming.
At the time of Empire Maker’s death, Antony Beck, the CEO of Gainesway, where the stallion stood since returning from Japan in 2015, said, “The passing of Empire Maker will leave a tremendous void not only in the breeding industry as we know it, but in the hearts of all of us who worked with him, every day. It was a huge honor and privilege to stand Empire Maker at Gainesway with our partners Don Alberto. He was the epitome of class and quality. I have never been involved with a stallion that possessed a better disposition. His impact on the breed has been significant, particularly producing very sound stock. He will be missed by all of us at Gainesway.”
Expected on track: Summer 2022
Classic Cut Work Update
Classic Cut worked five furlongs from the Ellis Park starting gate this morning and covered the distance in 1:00.80, which was nearly a full second faster than his work last week from the pole. This was the second time that he worked from the gate for the Brad Cox team. We will report back with […]
Classic Cut Workout Report
Classic Cut had his first five-furlong work at Ellis Park this morning, covering the ground in 1:01.80 seconds. Given this was his first breeze at the distance, a moderate time was to be expected. With juveniles, going from a half-mile to five furlongs is a big step up and a challenge, compared to going from […]
Classic Cut Workout Report
Classic Cut worked a half-mile this morning after two weeks of just galloping. The Empire Maker colt worked in company and covered the ground in 49.60 seconds followed by a nice gallop out. The young colt is currently not showing a lot of natural speed in the morning and has to be asked by his […]