Frankie's Empire (Classic Empire) either missed, or ignored, the memo that the longest shot on the board usually doesn't dominate, and strode home a much the best winner in the Swale S. to earn his career-first black type win.
A frequent face on the mid-atlantic seaboard, he'd broken his maiden and hit the board in the Sapling S. at Monmouth Park before being shipped to Delaware, where he picked up a second career win against optional claimers. Sixth in the Rocky Run S. last October when contesting over a muddy track, Frankie's Empire made his final start for Susan Crowell at Parx, where he scored another optional claiming win.
Moved to Michael Yates in Florida, and with only one work over the track in late January, the betting public left him ice cold on the board at 14-1. Content to watch as Billal (Street Sense) and Risk It (Gun Runner) disputed the pace, he loomed the danger coming around the bend and was rolling under a full head of steam entering the lane. Inhaling 4-5 favorite Legalize (Constitution) and all challengers to his inside, Frankie's Empire drew clear by 3 1/2 lengths as fellow 13-1 longshot Le Dom Bro (Mucho Macho Man) rolled home to further burn tickets from second. Grand Mo the First (Uncle Mo) rallied from way out to take third.
The victor is the newest stakes winner for Classic Empire, who was purchased by the Korea Racing Authority, and imported to South Korea Dec. 18 for his first season in the country this year.
A half-brother to Chaparella, a stakes-placed runner turned winner producer, Frankie's Empire also claims SP Streetlady (Street Boss), a winner producer in England, as a half-sibling. He's the most recent to the races for Donna D, who produced a pair of colts after the winner–a 2-year-old by Midnight Lute and a yearling by Tapiture. She is due to Mystic Guide in 2024. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
It was wide open coming to the stretch until #9 FRANKIE'S EMPIRE ($30) emerged with the lead and pulled away to win the $125K Swale Stakes. The son of Classic Empire was ridden by Miguel Vasquez and is trained by Michael Yates.
The $125,000 Forward Gal Stakes (GIII) is up next! pic.twitter.com/uxgq9CPGFB
— TVG (@TVG) February 3, 2024
SWALE S., $125,000, Gulfstream, 2-3, 3yo, 7f, 1:24.22, ft.
1–FRANKIE'S EMPIRE, 120, c, 3, by Classic Empire
1st Dam: Donna D (SP, $100,344), by Dixie Union
2nd Dam: Creativity, by Notebook
3rd Dam: She's Realistic, by In Reality
($20,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Frank DeLuca; B-Ralph Kinder & Erv Woolsey (KY); T-Michael Yates; J-Miguel Angel Vasquez. $75,950. Lifetime Record: 7-4-0-1, $185,700. *1/2 to Chaparella (Service Stripe), MSP, $163,421.
2–Le Dom Bro, 118, c, 3, Mucho Macho Man–Valiant Emilia (Per), by Pegasus Wind. ($20,000 Ylg '22 OBSWIN). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Vicente Stella Stables LLC; B-Teneri Farms Inc (KY); T-Eniel Cordero. $24,500.
3–Grand Mo the First, 120, c, 3, Uncle Mo–Lilies So Fair, by Giant's Causeway. ($125,000 RNA Ylg '22 KEESEP; $135,000 Ylg '22 FTKOCT; $335,000 RNA 2yo '23 OBSMAR). O-Granpollo Stable; B-John D. Gunther (KY); T-Victor Barboza, Jr.. $12,250.
Margins: 3HF, 3/4, NK. Odds: 14.00, 13.10, 7.80.
Also Ran: Billal, Risk It, Colorado Cruiser, Legalize. Scratched: Bentornato, Squints.
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