John Oxley’s Classic Empire, who inexplicably made a U-turn at the start of Saratoga’s G1 Hopeful, stayed on track in Saturday’s G1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland, winning convincingly under Julien Leparoux. Defeating 11 other juveniles by three lengths, the son of Pioneerof the Nile covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.41 for trainer Mark Casse, earning an expenses-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile next month at Santa Anita.

“This is a very, very talented horse,” assistant Norm Casse said. “The day after the Hopeful (G1) (when he wheeled at the start and lost his rider), we got right to work on him. We put blinkers on him; we breezed him out of the gate several times. It paid dividends today. We’ll more forward from here. You’ve got to think this horse has plenty of room to improve.”

Wild Shot broke very sharply from the center of the field and stole out to the early lead with the coveted rail position through the first turn. He was approached by Blame Will, but Wild Shot kept the lead by virtue of his position against the fence. Classic Empire kept tabs on the leaders while three-wide through the first turn, tracking them through a first quarter in :23.38 and a half-mile in 46.63. Approaching the far turn, Classic Empire drew even with Blame Will, and drew even with the leading Wild Shot at the head of the lane.

Classic Empire drew off to a one-length lead early in the stretch, as both Wild Shot and Blame Will were battling gamely for the place. Lookin at Lee was making up a lot of ground late to end up second, but he was still three lengths behind the geared down Classic Empire. Wild Shot finished third, and Blame Will wound up fourth.

“Today he broke sharp and was all business,” Leparoux said. “He ran a big race. I was a bit surprised to be where I was, but he did it easy and he was happy where he was. He got a little bit tired at the end, but he hasn’t been running for a while, so we expected that.”

Bred in Kentucky by Steven and Brandi Nicholson, Classic Empire was a $475,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase. The colt won at first asking at Churchill Downs, moving in graded company with ease to win the G3 Bashford Manor. His behavior in the Hopeful prompted the addition of blinkers and more gate schooling, which successfully improved the colt’s record to three wins from four starts for earnings of over $380,000.

Courtesy of the Paulick Report