Classic Empire wins Breeders’ Cup Juvenile by a neck
ARCADIA, Calif. — Classic Empire’s victory by a neck over Not This Time in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile gives him the edge in the debate over the winter favorite for the Kentucky Derby.
The difference between the two leading 2-year-olds right now might just be from the neck up.
“He’s extremely smart,” trainer Mark Casse said when asked about Classic Empire’s best attribute. “He just walks around and just doesn’t really care, and that’s always nice to have in a Derby horse.”
Sent off as the 9-2 second choice, Classic Empire won for the fourth time in five career starts, with his only loss coming when he threw his rider at the start of the Hopeful Stakes last month.