Classic Empire’s Sport Pepper Wins Second Consecutive Race

It was a second winner in 24 hours for Classic Empire when Peacock Stable’s Sport Pepper (2g Classic Empire x Le Mi Geaux, by First Samurai) won his second consecutive race.

Racing a mile on the Keeneland dirt, Sport Pepper set the pace a few paths off the rail with a horse keeping pressure on him throughout. In the stretch, Corey Lanerie got to work on the juvenile and Sport Pepper opened up a few lengths on the field. A late runner cut into his lead at the end but Sport Pepper safely held that one by a length at the line.

Trained by Kerry Zavash, Sport Pepper has finished in the top three in four of his six career starts with his previous five all coming at Arlington.

A $250,000 weanling purchase, Sport Pepper is out of the Grade III winner Le Mi Geaux. That mare is a full sister to stakes-placed Yari and out of the stakes winning Message Red.

A Champion 2-year-old himself, Classic Empire is proving to pass his preciosity on to his foals with his five juvenile stakes performers this year not only among the top 10 of all North American sires but also tied with Mendelssohn’s champion sire half-brother Into Mischief among others.