Can American Pharoah Redeem His Bloodline?

THE KENTUCKY DERBY

As we already know, Funny Cide, the horse Empire Maker beat with ease just a few weeks earlier, won the 2003 Kentucky Derby, with Empire Maker finishing second. Without a doubt the bruised foot limited his training the week of the race. The fact that the colt finished second despite his bruise and lack of derby week preparation says so much about the colt’s quality and character.

Frankel kept Empire Maker out of the Preakness Stakes to prepare for the mile-and-a-half Belmont, where he beat Funny Cide and went from potential Triple Crown winner to Triple Crown spoiler. Empire Maker raced once more after his classic victory before he was retired to stud. Funny Cide continued to race and with two of the three legs of the Triple Crown to his name, he was awarded the Eclipse Award for 2003 Champion 3-Year-Old colt.

AT STUD

Empire Maker stood seven seasons in the United States before he was prematurely sold to the Japan Bloodhorse Breeders’ Association in 2010. His export to Japan was both a surprise and a huge loss for the American breeding industry. Among his most impressive offspring are three time Eclipse Award winner Royal Delta, and Kentucky Derby runner ups Pioneer of The Nile (American Pharoah Sire) and Bodemeister.

Free Kentucky Derby Past Performances

This year, one of his grandsons, American Pharoah is expected by many to be a potential Triple Crown winner. Today we will know whether or not he will fulfill the dream that Empire Maker carried on his back over a decade ago. Kentucky Derby 141. Win or lose, we know one thing is for certain – Empire Maker has definitely delivered the goods.