Classic Empire to AR Derby..
Classic Empire headed to Oaklawn Park for Arkansas Derby April 15, per Casse
Dave Grening
Eclipse Award-winning 2-year-old male Classic Empire will make his next start, and final prep for the May 6 in the Kentucky Derby, in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park on April 15, trainer Mark Casse said Tuesday, shortly after Classic Empire turned in his second work in a week at the Winding Oaks training facility in Ocala, Fla.
Casse also had been considering the Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on April 8. He said the "biggest reason" for the Arkansas Derby "is it gives us an extra week."
"Right now the toughest horse out there is McCraken," Casse said of the unbeaten colt who is headed to the Blue Grass. "We'll wait and meet McCraken at the Derby."
Classic Empire won last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile but has raced just once since, in the Holy Bull nearly two months ago. He came out of that race with a foot abscess, then twice in recent weeks refused to work at the Palm Meadows training center in south Florida.
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