Regally-Bred Classic Moment New Winner For Classic Empire

Classic Empire’s regally-bred Classic Moment (2c Classic Empire x Victory Party, by Yankee Victor) gave Classic Empire’s studmate and Grade I Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Mendelssohn something to celebrate when becoming the newest winner in the family.

Out of Mendelssohn’s half-sister, Classic Moment made his second career start a winning one when racing over 6 ½ furlongs at Churchill Downs.

Putting the pressure on the leader nearly from the start, even when that one faded late, Classic Moment still had his hands full. He had to duel with Cyberknife to the wire but was able to have half a length ahead at the wire with the third place runner nearly seven lengths back.

A $285,000 weanling at Keeneland November and $350,000 yearling purchase by Winchell Thoroughbreds last year, Winchell is joined by L and J Racing in the colt’s ownership with Steve Asmussen taking command of training duties.

The Team Valor-bred is out of Victory Party, who has produced four winners from six to race led by multiple graded stakes-placed Victory Kingdom.

Victory Party herself is a half-sister to Ashford’s own Grade I winner Mendelssohn in addition to multiple champion Beholder and leading sire Into Mischief. Classic Moment’s granddam Leslie’s Lady is also the granddam of stakes winner Harry’s Holiday, Grade III-placed Remedy, and stakes-placed Sarah Her Highness.

Victory Party also has a Justify weanling colt and returned to Uncle Mo this year.

Classic Empire is the sire of 14 winners as a top 10 freshman sire. His runners include two stakes winners and five stakes performers, both putting him in the top five of all freshmen.