John Oxley’s Classic Empire, undefeated in every race in which his rider has stayed aboard, continued that streak in Saturday’s Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, holding off Not This Time to win by a neck at the wire. A 2-year-old son of Pioneerof the Nile, Classic Empire covered the 1 1/16 mile course over Santa Anita’s fast main track in 1:42.60. The win is jockey Julien Leparoux’s seventh Breeders’ Cup victory, and the third for trainer Mark Casse.
“I thought at the top of the lane he was going to win easily,” Casse said. “Then it got pretty close, but Dale (Romans) said all along it was going to be us two and it was quite a deal. We got a little unlucky with Valadorna, but maybe we got lucky this time. We have a lot of wonderful people that we work for and we have a great team.”
In what many expected would be a speed-laden event, Syndergaard, Theory, Classic Empire and Three Rules were all very sharp out of the starting gate. Syndergaard kept on along the inside rail to take the lead into the first turn, with Classic Empire moving into stalking position just off his flank in second. Undefeated Three Rules was just behind them, with Gormley hung out four-wide all the way through the first turn.
Posting a first quarter-mile time of :23.05, Syndergaard appeared relaxed on the front end while Classic Empire and Three Rules kept his pace honest. Theory kept up the pressure from fourth, with Not This Time rating kindly in fifth through the early stages. Syndergaard maintained the same pace to mark the half-mile in :46.60, struggling a bit to hold on to his advantage over Classic Empire.
Classic Empire moved up approaching the far turn, drawing even and moving past Syndergaard before reaching the top of the lane. Classic Empire recorded a six-furlong time of 1:10.48, but Not This Time was making up ground quickly from the center of the pack. Syndergaard was dropping back as Practical Joke was trying to close into the speed from seventh.
At the top of the lane, Classic Empire had a distinct advantage over Not This Time, but the Dale Romans trainee simply refused to quit, grinding away at Classic Empire down the length of the stretch. Classic Empire kept on, tiring a bit in the final sixteenth but well-rationed by Leparoux to hold on by a neck at the wire. Not This Time was relegated to second, with Practical Joke 7 1/2 lengths back in third. Lookin at Lee finished fourth, followed by Syndergaard and Three Rules. Star Empire was eased at the top of the stretch and did not gallop through to the wire, but walked off the track under his own power.
“He broke sharp and I put him in the race right away,” said Leparoux. “He took second very nice. I tried to open up coming to the quarter pole, which he did and held off Not This Time (second). He is a nice colt. We really love him and we knew he was going to run good, so I’m glad we got the win.”
Bred in Kentucky by Steven and Brandi Nicholson, Classic Empire was a $475,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase. He won his first two starts at Churchill Downs, including the G3 Bashford Manor. In his next start at Saratoga’s G1 Hopeful, Classic Empire inexplicably wheeled after the start, losing jockey Irad Ortiz. The colt was uninjured, and Casse resumed training on him to work toward the G1 Breeders Futurity at Keeneland. The horse proved his talent while exhibiting perfect behavior, winning by three lengths over fellow Juvenile contender Lookin at Lee. Overall, Classic Empire has won four of his five starts for earnings of nearly $1.5 million.
“I have been doing this 37 years and I thought his race in the Bashford Manor was as good as any 2yo I’ve ever trained,” Casse relayed. “Then his deal he did in the Hopeful up at Saratoga, so this is maybe even a little more rewarding because it hasn’t been easy. He’ll try you.”
Classic Empire’s Juvenile win makes him the early favorite for the first Saturday in May, leading the points race with 30 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Courtesy of the Paulick Report
