Champion Classic Empire breezes for Belmont Stakes 2017
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John Oxley’s Classic Empire, runner-up in the Preakness (Grade I) and fourth-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby (GI), breezed a half-mile in :50 at Churchill Downs on Friday morning in preparation for the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes (GI), the third jewel of the Triple Crown.
Classic Empire, ridden by exercise rider Martin Rivera, breezed in company outside of stablemate Airoforce through splits of :24.60 and :37.60 before galloping out five furlongs in 1:04.
“He’s doing reall well,” assistant trainer Norm Casse said. “We breezed in company (Airoforce) but wished the workmate could’ve kept up better. I’m still very happy about the work. He was at his full level of fitness for the Preakness. He’ll obviously keep improving with his maturity in each start but his fitness level is great.”
Following the Preakness, trainer Mark Casse said they may remove blinkers for the Belmont.
“We talked about removing blinkers right after the Preakness,” Norm Casse said. “That decision is still up in the air. He’s never breezed with them and didn’t this morning again.”
Fellow Belmont contender J Boys Echo, 15th-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby, is scheduled to breeze at Churchill Downs on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. (all times Eastern) for trainer Dale Romans.
Source: Churchill Downs
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