$350,000 Classic Empire Colt Kicks Off Keeneland September

Fireworks flew early for Classic Empire at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale when his Hip 8 from Eaton Sales sold for $350,000.

Purchased by Winchell Thoroughbreds, the colt out of Victory Party was the sixth yearling through the ring during Sunday’s opening session. The first through the ring by Classic Empire at this sale, it took no time to establish his sire as a freshman to watch.

A half-brother to Group II-placed Victory Kingdom and three other winners from five to race, the Team Valor-bred is out of an unraced half-sister to four-time champion Beholder, Grade I winner Mendelssohn, and Grade I winner and top sire Into Mischief.

Three daughters of Leslie’s Lady have already produced stakes horses with the family promising to get even better in coming years. Included in the group of upcoming runners is a $8.2 million American Pharoah filly out of Leslie’s Lady, who sold at Keeneland last year.

Classic Empire’s first yearlings have been well received in 2020 with the nine sold at two completed sales this summer and fall averaging $142,611, led by a $375,000 colt sold at the Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase just a few days ago.