Empire Maker , the leading third-crop sire of 2009, has been sold to the Japan Bloodhorse Breeders Association for an undisclosed sum, according to a Nov. 12 release from Juddmonte Farms.
A 10-year-old son of Unbridled produced from Broodmare of the Year Toussaud (by El Gran Senor), Empire Maker won the 2003 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) for Prince Khalid Abdullah’s Juddmonte operation.
Empire Maker, who stood for $50,000 this year, has been represented by 18 stakes winners from four crops of racing age, topped by millionaire and multiple grade I winner Pioneerof the Nile , who was second in the 2009 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
This year, Empire Maker has been represented by grade I winner Acoma and grade II winners Acting Happy and Battle Plan.