First Crop Classic Empire Colt Sells for $310,000

Hip 1398, colt from the first crop of Eclipse Champion Classic Empire, sold for $310,000 during the final session of the Kentucky October Yearlings sale. The bay colt was purchased by Mike Ryan, agent from the consignment of St George Sales, agent.

Champion Two-Year-Old Classic Empire won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) and Breeders' Futurity (G1) at two, and carried his form to win the Arkansas Derby (G1) at three. He won five times in his career, including four graded stakes, and earned $5,520,220. His first crop are yearlings of 2020.

This is the second foal out of the winning Bernardini mare Delay of Game. Her first foal, Spa Ready (Bernardini), was a 3 1/4-length winner on debut last month at Belmont Park. Delay of Game is a half-sister to the dam of Grade 2 winning millionaire Stanford and stakes winner Hedge Fund. The immediate family includes U.S. and European champion two-year-old male Johannesburg, as well as of Grade 1 winner Preach, ancesstress of three-time Leading Sire Tapit, and Grade/Group 1 winners Minardi and Joking.

Hip 1398 was bred in New York by EKQ Stables Corp.