John Oxley's Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile), champion juvenile colt of 2016, will make his next start in the GI Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park Apr. 15, trainer Mark Casse confirmed Wednesday. The decision was made after the colt worked five furlongs from the gate in :59.30 at Winding Oaks Farm near Ocala Tuesday morning. Classic Empire had previously been under consideration for the GII Toyota Blue Grass S. at Keeneland Apr. 8, but was re-routed to Hot Springs after reportedly refusing to breeze twice in recent weeks at Palm Meadows in South Florida.
“It's well documented–we've had some bumps in the road,” Casse said Tuesday afternoon, referring to a series of training disruptions as a result of a foot abscess and back issue following his third-place finish as the heavy favorite in the Feb. 4 GII Lambholm South Holy Bull S. “But, the good news is it doesn't matter. As I said, it's like a baseball game. Doesn't matter how many runs you score in the early innings, it's how many you score in the end.”
With a new plan to target the Arkansas Derby, Casse secures an additional week of training for Classic Empire as he eyes a final prep for the GI Kentucky Derby May 6. The dark bay breezed in company with MGSW Airoforce (Colonel John) Tuesday.
“I thought he worked extremely well,” Casse said. “That was the good news. The bad news was we kind of really felt like he could use another strong work. And, given the timing of the Blue Grass, we weren't going to be able to do that…The Arkansas Derby has been in our mind for a while.”
Classic Empire put forth a nearly flawless 2-year-old campaign in 2016, which included a pair of Grade I wins in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity Oct. 8 and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Nov. 5. Bet down to 1-2 favoritism in his sophomore debut in the Holy Bull, he chased the pace from the outside and faded to finish 8 3/4 lengths adrift of 'TDN Rising Star' Irish War Cry (Curlin) after being put to a drive on the turn. Classic Empire currently sits 11th on the Kentucky Derby qualifying leader board with 32 points to his credit. The Arkansas Derby offers a total of 170 points, with 100 awarded to the winner.
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