Visually at least, champion Classic Empire sent a strong message Friday to his rivals in Kentucky Derby 143.
That is, the Arkansas Derby winner has carried over his good form from Oaklawn Park to Churchill Downs, site of the May 6 classic.
Classic Empire worked a half-mile in company outside stablemate Perfect Partner in 49.20 seconds at the Louisville track. With exercise rider Martin Rivera aboard, the Pioneerof the Nile colt galloped out five furlongs in 1:03, his last scheduled move before the first jewel of the Triple Crown. Julien Leparoux has the race-day mount on Classic Empire, owned by Tulsa, Okla., oilman John Oxley.
"His work gave me chills," said trainer Mark Casse. "Now it's a waiting game. It's all about timing."
"He got really tough at the five-eighths pole," Rivera said, "but he finished up really good."
Entries will be drawn Wednesday with a full field of 20 horses expected. Classic Empire and Florida Derby winner Always Dreaming are considered co-favorites on most projected morning lines, the field including Malagacy and Untrapped, winner and third-place finisher in Oaklawn's Grade 2 Rebel March 18, and Oaklawn maiden winner Hence. Oaklawn starters Lookin At Lee, Sonneteer and Royal Mo also have a chance to make the field.
Third in Gulfstream Park's Grade 2 Holy Bull in February, Classic Empire won the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby by a half-length April 15, earning 100 points toward a possible start May 6. That was the colt's first victory since November's Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile and followed a hectic training period in Florida that Classic Empire was treated for a foot abscess and back injuries while reportedly twice refusing to work in the mornings. Casse finally moved the colt to the farm in Ocala, Fla., where he was broken, and sent him to Arkansas with fingers crossed.
"Every day is a relief. Every day when you can get closer is a relief," Casse said Friday after the workout. "Look at him, he's not even taking a deep breath. The nice part is (during the workout), he was wanting to do it. Julien said in the Arkansas Derby that going down the backside, he knew he was sitting on the real Classic Empire. Because in the Holy Bull, there was nothing there."
Casse is grooming a second Derby starter, Grade 1 Florida Derby and Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby runner-up State of Honor working a half-mile in 48.80 seconds Friday. Casse sees the To Honor and Serve colt contributing to the Kentucky Derby pace.
"Maybe because of Classic Empire, people aren't really paying attention to (State of Honor). But he has some speed. And I don't think there is a lot of speed in the Derby this year. So I think he's going to be pretty close."
Sports on 04/29/2017