Classic Empire (horse)

Classic Empire
Classic Empire before the 2016 Breeders' Cup Juvenile
Sire	Pioneerof the Nile
Grandsire	Empire Maker
Dam	Sambuca Classica
Damsire	Cat Thief
Sex	Colt
Foaled	March 21, 2014
Country	United States
Color	Bay
Breeder	Steven & Brandi Nicholson
Owner	John C. Oxley
Trainer	Mark Casse
Record	9: 5-1-1
Earnings	$2,520,220
Major wins
Bashford Manor Stakes (2016) Breeders' Futurity Stakes (2016) Arkansas Derby (2017) Breeders' Cup wins: Breeders' Cup Juvenile (2016)
Awards
American Champion Two-Year-Old Male Horse (2016)

Classic Empire (foaled March 21, 2014) is an American Thoroughbred race horse who was named the American Champion Two-Year-Old Male Horse of 2016 after winning the Breeders' Futurity Stakes and Breeders' Cup Juvenile. After several setbacks at the start of his three-year-old campaign, he won the Arkansas Derby, finished a troubled fourth in the Kentucky Derby, then second by a head in the Preakness Stakes.

Classic Empire is a bay colt with a white star, stripe, and snip, and a white sock on his left hind leg. He was bred by Steven and Brandi Nicholson in Kentucky. He is by Pioneerof the Nile, best known as the sire of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. Classic Empire's dam, Sambuca Classica, was winless on the racetrack but came from distinguished bloodlines. She had already produced two stakes winners before foaling Classic Empire.

As a yearling being prepared for sale, Classic Empire was described by his handlers as a "very well-bodied, medium-sized horse, he kind of stood out for folks." He was purchased for $475,000 at the Keeneland September 2015 sale as a yearling by John C. Oxley. He is trained by Mark Casse, who says that despite the colt's athleticism, his most compelling aspect is the way his mind works. "He's extremely, extremely smart. He sees things other horses don't see. We were saying this early on. It can get him in trouble sometimes."

Classic Empire gained a reputation as being a bit of a 'bad-boy' early in his racing career, after unseating his rider in the Hopeful Stakes and refusing to breeze on multiple occasions. But Casse said that he doesn't merit such a reputation, stating: "He doesn't have a mean bone in his body. You could put a 5-year-old kid in his stall and never worry. He can just be a bit stubborn sometimes."