Classic Empire Paddock

Classic Empire and Caravaggio Juveniles Set For OBS June

The sire of two Churchill Downs winners already from his first crop, Classic Empire sends six through the ring at the OBS June 2-Year-Old Sale, where they’re joined by one juvenile from Caravaggio’s first crop.

Classic Empire had a pair of :10.1 breezers at last week’s Under Tack show, with the first of the duo through the ring Hip 245.

Out of a full sister to Grade I winner Data Link, the filly offered by Gabriel Dixon was bred by Steven and Brandi Nicholson in Kentucky – the breeders of her sire. Her dam is also the dam of six-time winner Super Twenty Five from one to race and is a daughter of stakes winner Database. Database’s dam is also the granddam of both Grade I winner Hymn Book and great-granddam of champion Caledonia Road.

Classic Empire’s other :10.1 juvenile, Hip 293, saw a big update two weeks ago when his Uncle Mo half-sister Envoutante won the Listed Shawnee Stakes at Churchill Downs by 4 ¼ lengths. That filly is also a Grade II winner and Grade I-placed.

This colt also sees 19-time winner Metallic Mist as his dam’s half-brother with his third dam the full sister to four-time Grade I winner and champion sire Forty Niner with stakes winner Sort It Out under his third dam. Just like his 4-year-old half-sister, Hip 293 is also bred by Jumping Jack Racing.

Out of Grade III winner Northern Passion is Hip 913 from Grassroots Training and Sales. Bred by Classic Empire’s racing owner John Oxley, his dam is one of three stakes horses out of stakes-placed A Touch Of Glory, who is a full sister to Canadian champion Ginger Gold and half-sister to stakes winner Kesagami.

The cross Hip 281 is bred on has already proven to work with the Julie Davis-offered colt a three-quarter brother to stakes winner Conquest Top Gun. That Pioneerof the Nile son is one of five winners from seven to race out of their stakes-placed dam Early Vintage.

Early Vintage is one of three stakes performers for her own dam Ms Cuvee Napa, who is also the granddam of Grade I winner Off The Tracks and Grade I-placed Defense Wins.

Only a few days after scoring his first stakes winner with Dizzy Bizu, Caravaggio sends Hip 647 through the OBS ring.

Offered by Silvestre Chavez Thoroughbreds, the colt out of the Footstepsinthesand mare Positive Step is also a half-brother to Group II-placed Broken Stones and stakes placed Ursa. Positive Step herself is a half-sister to two stakes-placed runner and is a granddaughter of Group II winner Calandra. Calendra produced multiple stakes winner Golden Temple and has seen her daughters produce multiple stakes performers as well.

Calandra is out of a successful producer as well with her own dam also producing European champion and Group I Epsom Oaks winner Intrepidity.

The OBS June 2-Year-Old Sale kicks off on Wednesday at 10:30am. Caravaggio’s lone offering goes through the ring during the final session of the sale on Friday. Classic Empire’s OBS sale kicks off with Hip 42 on Wednesday and his only non-Wednesday offering joins Caravaggio’s son on Friday.