Classic Empire

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[1]
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 a retired 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 was retired due to multiple setbacks from an abscess on his right front hoof, as well as slight back problems which plagued him throughout his career. He stands stud at Ashford Stud, in Kentucky.