TDN RISING STARS

November 13, 2011 - Hollywood Park, Race 4, Msw, USD $45,000, 6 1/2f

Empire Way, c, 2, 2009 by Empire Maker

1st Dam: Delta Princess (MGSW, $740,918), by A.P. Indy
2nd Dam: Lyphard's Delta, by Lyphard
3rd Dam: Proud Delta, by Delta Judge

Owner: Heinz Steinmann
Breeder: Palides Inv. NV Inc (KY)
Trainer: Mike Harrington

Empire Way took the first step here in emulating his full-sister Royal Delta, MGISW, $1,694,600, who herself earned the J "TDN Rising Star" J distinction for a 12-length romp at Belmont last October and now appears a shoe-in for champion 3-year-old filly honors after annexing the GI Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic Nov. 4. A $140,000 KEESEP RNA, Empire Way was scooped up for $250,000 at FTFFEB by trainer Mike Harrington before Royal Delta ran back from her debut. He had an extended series of sharp-looking drills over the surface, but did not take an excess of action, going off a 5-2 co-second choice. Exhibiting the same low head carriage as his big sister, Empire Way dropped back to last behind a half in :46.61. He slowly picked up momentum along the turn for home, and tipped out widest of all while still in hand. The dark bay gobbled up ground with every stride as the line loomed, and blew past favored Holy Candy (Candy Ride {Arg}), still in hand, to earn his diploma by a measured half-length. It was 6 3/4 lengths back to the third-place finisher Unmarked Bills (Posse), a half to MGISW Devil May Care (Malibu Moon) and GSW Regal Ransom (Distorted Humor). Royal Delta sold for $8.5 million as part of the complete dispersal of the late Saud bin Khaled's Palides Investments to Besilu Stable's Ben Leon as a racing/broodmare prospect at KEENOV Tuesday. She and Empire Way are out of Delta Princess, a full-sister to GISW Indy Five Hundred and 3/4-sister to G1SW Biondetti (Bernardini). Delta Princess went for $2.6M to Adena Springs at KEENOV in foal to Distorted Humor. She has a yearling by Street Sense who sold for $650,000 at KEESEP, and a weanling by Smart Strike who Leon purchased at KEENOV for $1.6M. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $27,000.