True Empress Latest Winner for Classic Empire

True Empress (3f Classic Empire x For All You Know, by Yes It’s True) became the newest winner for Classic Empire on Saturday with a two-length Maiden Special Weight victory at Aqueduct.

The filly broke just a step slow under Eric Cancel and spent the first quarter of the six furlong race in last before advancing through the field from there. Wide throughout the run, True Empress was nearly even with the leader at the top of the stretch and took command soon after.

Cancel didn’t have to ask for much for the filly to show her best, just giving her a few nudges to have her extend easily with the third placed runner five lengths behind her.

The filly is trained by George Weaver for RA Hill Stable and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, who purchased her for $135,000 as a weanling.

She is out of the stakes-placed For All You Know, who is also a half-sister to stakes-placed Stratagem with that pair out of a half-sister to Grade I winner Saratoga County.

True Empress’s dam returned to Caravaggio for last year’s foal.

A top 10 sire of his generation, Classic Empire is the sire of 32 winners, including eight stakes performers and three stakes winners. That group includes Grade I Kentucky Derby contender Morello.