Classic Empire, the champion 2-year-old male of 2016, has been sold to the Korea Racing Authority to continue his stud career in that country for the 2024 breeding season.
According to K.R.A. records, the 9-year-old son of Pioneerof the Nile arrived in Korea on Dec. 18. He previously stood at Ashford Stud in Versailles, Ky., where he entered stud in 2018, and he was a frequent shuttle stallion to Chile. His oldest foals are 4-year-olds of 2023.
Classic Empire has sired 113 winners and amassed combined progeny earnings of more than $13.5 million.
His most notable runner to date is Angel of Empire, who won this year's Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes and the G1 Arkansas Derby en route to a third-place finish in the Kentucky Derby as the post time favorite. Classic Empire is also the sire of Grade 2 winner Interstatedaydream and Grade 3 winners Morello and Classy Edition.
Campaigned on the racetrack by John Oxley and trained by Mark Casse, Classic Empire won five of nine starts and earned $2,520,220.
He earned the Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old male on a campaign that featured wins in the G3 Bashford Manor Stakes, the G1 Breeders' Futurity, and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
At three, Classic Empire finished third in the G2 Holy Bull Stakes to begin his season, then he came back to win the G1 Arkansas Derby. After finishing fourth in the 2017 Kentucky Derby, Classic Empire entered the Preakness Stakes, where he appeared clear in the stretch, but was caught by a head by Cloud Computing.
The Preakness would be Classic Empire's final start, owing to an abscess in his right front hoof that caused to be withdrawn from Belmont Stakes consideration and ultimately cost him the rest of his 3-year-old season.
Bred in Kentucky by Steven and Brandi Nicholson, Classic Empire is out of the placed Cat Thief mare Sambuca Classica, whose other notable foals include stakes winners Anytime Magic and Uptown Twirl. His second dam is the multiple Grade 1-placed In Her Glory and his extended family features champion Revidere.
Classic Empire joins Grade 1 winner West Will Power among U.S.-based newcomers to the Korean stallion ranks for the 2024 breeding season.
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