There is no doubt the greatness was there with Classic Empire. And there is no doubt it was confronted by enough obstacles to prevent it from fully surfacing. But it did on occasion manage to trickle out, to show the world what might have been.
The $100,000 Bashford Manor Stakes (G3) June 30 at Churchill Downs featured a pair of short-priced favorites and a pair of disparate trips.
Owner John Oxley, trainer Mark Casse, and jockey Julien Leparoux, completed an impressive 2-year-old stakes double July 2 at Churchill Downs.
After winning his maiden debut by 10 1/4 lengths May 28 at Pimlico Race Course, Recruiting Ready is scheduled to ship west for the $100,000 Bashford Manor Stakes (gr. III) July 2 at Churchill Downs.
Texas-bred He's Comin in Hot became a graded stakes winner after wiring the field to take the $100,000 Bashford Manor Stakes (gr. III) from Churchill Downs on June 27.
Cinco Charlie turned in his second impressive performance in as many career starts June 28 when leading all the way to win the $100,000 Bashford Manor Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill Downs.
After overwhelming seven other 2-year-olds in his 4 1/2-furlong debut at Churchill Downs, Cinco Charlie will stretch out to six furlongs for his stakes debut June 28 in the $100,000 Bashford Manor Stakes (gr. III).
Debt Ceiling improved his career to a perfect 3-for-3 by taking the $111,400 Bashford Manor Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill Downs in a commanding fashion June 29.
After impressively winning his debut June 1 at Churchill Downs, D'cajun Cat will try to make it 2-for-2 under the twin spires when he faces six other juveniles in the $100,000 Bashford Manor Stakes (gr. III) June 29.
Post your picks and discuss.
Evan and Pete handicap the Dwyer Stakes and Bashford Manor Stakes for the coming weekend.
A field of eight 2-year-olds is set to square off in the 111th running of the $100,000 Bashford Manor Stakes (gr. III) that highlights the June 30 card at Churchill Downs.
Exfactor circled the field on the turn, took over at the top of the stretch, and ran away to a 2 3/4-length victory in the $111,500 Bashford Manor (gr. III), the first graded race for 2-year-olds males this season July 2.
Texas-bred Lil Cherokee, undefeated in two starts at Lone Star Park, leads a field of 11 in the $100,000 Bashford Manor (gr. III) for 2-year-olds July 2 at Churchill Downs.
Circular Quay, an easy winner for trainer Todd Pletcher in his lone start, and unbeaten Chace City, the Steve Asmussen-trained winner of the $125,000 Victoria Stakes at Canada's Woodbine, head a field of eight horses entered for Saturday's $150,000-added Bashford Manor Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill Downs.
Ten 2-year-olds will attempt to earn black type when they line up in Sunday's $150,000 Bashford Manor Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill Downs.
Heiligbrodt Racing Stable's unbeaten Lunarpal will be looking to complete a rare sweep when he faces six 2-year-old rivals in the $150,000-added Bashford Manor Stakes (gr. III) Monday, the closing day of Churchill Downs spring meet.
Unbeaten Lunarpal is set for his bid to become the second horse to sweep Churchill Downs' three-race Spring Meet stakes series for 2-year-olds when he takes the gate in Monday's $100,000-added Bashford Manor (gr. III).
Winchell Thoroughbred's unbeaten Cuvee, a dominating winner of the Kentucky Breeders' Cup (gr. III) at Churchill Downs, is the headliner in a battle of so far perfect 2-year-olds converging on Churchill Downs for $125,000-added Bashford Manor Stakes (gr. III).
Winchell Thoroughbreds' Cuvee, who looms as a heavy favorite in Sunday's 102nd running of the $125,000-added Bashford Manor Stakes (gr. III) for 2-year-olds, finished his major preparation for the six furlong race with a Monday work at Churchill Downs.
Good Journey and Pat Day team to win the Firecracker at Churchill Downs on July Fourth.
Duality, a 2-year-old son of Seeking the Gold, rallied under jockey Calvin Borel to wear down pacesetter Strait Cat for a half-length victory in Sunday's $139,125 Bashford Manor Stakes, the feature on the final day of Churchill Down's spring meet.
