Ashford Stud's freshman sire and champion Classic Empire sired his first winner May 7 at Churchill Downs when his son Old Town Road won his debut by 2 1/2 lengths.
Bred by Buck Pond Farm out of the stakes-placed Pioneering mare Pi Bella, the colt is owned by Doug Arnold Jr.'s Colonel Stable, trained by Wesley Ward, and was ridden by Martin Pedroza.
"I have seven partners in this horse, four from North Carolina and this is their first horse," Arnold said. "We had a horse finish a close second in an allowance race last night, so I was stressed. I wanted these guys to get a win. They had a watch party for the race, so this is exciting."
Doug Arnold Sr., owner of Buck Pond, bought Pi Bella for $10,000 in foal to Secret Circle at the 2017 Ocala Breeders' Sales Winter Mixed Sale out of the Trackside Farm consignment. The mare has a yearling colt by Classic Empire and foaled a colt by Munnings this year. She was bred back to Buck Pond's first-year stallion Shancelot . Pi Bella has produced three winners from four to race.
Classic Empire was the 2016 Eclipse champion 2-year-old male. At 3, he won the Arkansas Derby (G1), was fourth in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1), and second in the Preakness Stakes (G1). He retired with a 5-1-1 record from nine starts and earned $2,520,220. He stands for $17,500.
