Champion Classic Empire heading to Oaklawn

The Arkansas Derby landed another major player Tuesday with the announcement that Classic Empire is heading to Oaklawn Park for the $1 million race April 15.

Trainer Mark Casse said after the colt's five-furlong work Tuesday at Winding Oaks Farm near Ocala, Fla., that the Arkansas Derby would be Classic Empire's second, and last, prep race for the May 6 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. According to online reports, Classic Empire has healed from an abscess in his right front foot and back issues that bothered him earlier this month.

After consulting with owner John Oxley, Casse said the Arkansas Derby fits Classic Empire's schedule better than the Grade 2 Toyota Blue Grass April 8 at Keeneland, their other option.

Going to Oaklawn, Casse said, "allows us to put one more big work into him, whereas we were kind of messed up with the timing as far as the Blue Grass." Casse said the colt would be shipped April 12 to Oaklawn, where he has operated a stable in recent years.

Classic Empire has thrived since moving to Winding Oaks Farm, working five furlongs in 59 3-5 seconds Tuesday under regular jockey Julien Leparoux after going the same distance in 1:01 2-5 March 22. Classic Empire refused to break off for a breeze March 19 at Palm Meadows.

"He gets things in his mind sometimes and we just thought maybe something was bothering him (at Palm Meadows)," Casse was quoted on bloodhorse.com. "I know that personally, sometimes if you've had a bad experience somewhere, you feel it. That was our thought and we got him out of there. My only regret is that maybe I should have done it earlier."

Classic Empire was named 2016 champion juvenile male after winning the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita and Grade 1 Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland. His only 2-year-old defeat came in Saratoga's Grade 1 Hopeful when he unseated his rider.

Classic Empire developed an abscess in his right front foot after a third-place finish in the Feb. 4 Grade 2 Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park. Sired by Pioneerof the Nile, Classic Empire ranks 11th in the Road to the Kentucky Derby standings with 32 points. The Arkansas Derby offers 170 points (100 to the winner) for a possible start in the Triple Crown race.

* American Pharoah, also by Pioneerof the Nile, won the 2015 Rebel and Arkansas Derby after being named the previous year's champion juvenile male. American Pharoah, trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, went on to become racing's first Triple Crown winner in 37 years.

* Steve Haskin, in his weekly online column for BloodHorse, ranks Classic Empire No. 11 on his Derby Dozen, immediately behind Todd Pletcher-trained Oaklawn stakes winners One Liner (Grade 3 Southwest) and Malagacy (Grade 2 Rebel). Haskin ranks last-out Grade 2 Fountain of Youth winner Gunnevera No. 1 ahead of his Grade 1 Florida Derby showdown Saturday against No. 2 McCraken.

* Classic Empire, Malagacy, One Liner and Oaklawn-based Untrapped are among the 24 separate betting interests in the fourth, and last, Kentucky Derby Future Wager, opening a three-day run at 11 a.m. Friday.

Other Derby prospects are included in a mutuel field, listed at 10-1 on the morning line. Gunnevera and McCraken are co-favorites at 6-1 with One Liner 10-1, Malagacy 30-1 and Untrapped 50-1. Untrapped, owned by Mike Langford of Jonesboro, is pointing to the Arkansas Derby after a third-place finish in the Grade 2 Rebel March 18 at Oaklawn.

The mutuel field for Pool 4 includes Hence, Sunday's Grade 3 Sunland Park Derby winner for Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, who also trains Untrapped and two other Kentucky Derby hopefuls, Lookin At Lee and Local Hero. Hence, owned by Calumet Farm, won an early-season Oaklawn maiden race despite almost veering into the inner rail after leading in midstretch.

Sports on 03/29/2017

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