Classicstateofmind Continues Sire’s Winning Start

It was winner number 12 of the year for Classic Empire on Wednesday when Classicstateofmind (3c Classic Empire x Stormandaprayer, by Songandaprayer) won his second career race in a Gulfstream Park Allowance Optional Claiming event.

The five-furlong turf race saw the Jose D’Angelo-trained sophomore take up pace making duties early in the race. Around the turn, the colt had extra pressure applied by a foe and when getting a tap from Irad Ortiz Jr. again extended his lead.

He had plenty left in the stretch and was just kept focused by his jockey to win by 2 ½ lengths at the line.

Classicstateofmind has proven to be a consistent runner for JFG Thoroughbreds and Maritza Weston with his only off the board finish coming in his debut last September.

He was bred by Lakland Farm out of the stakes placed Stormandaprayer, who also finished fourth in a Grade I and is the dam of the Grade III-placed Harland’s Thunder among her five winners from five to race.

Classicstateofmind is a grandson of the Grade I-winning Stormy Pick, whose runners also include stakes-placed Dothraki with her daughters producing four stakes performers and a granddaughter producing a two-time stakes winner.

Stormandaprayer returned to Classic Empire’s fellow second-crop studmate Practical Joke in 2020 and has a yearling filly coming up as well.

Classic Empire sits second only to Cupid by number of 2022 winners among second crop sires and is also the sire of three stakes performers this year led by the stakes winning Morello. Those three stakes performers are third best among all in his generation.