Prominent classic sire Empire Maker, who returned from Japan to stand in Kentucky starting with the 2016 breeding season, is set to have his first Gainesway-sired yearlings offered this summer.
Empire Maker’s racing career included Grade 1 victories in the Belmont Stakes, Florida Derby, and Wood Memorial. At stud, Empire Maker has sired 11 Grade 1 winners and has emerged as an important sire of sires.
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who trained Grade 1-winning Empire Maker colts Pioneerof the Nile and Bodemeister as well as Pioneerof the Nile’s Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, believes Empire Maker’s success comes from his ability to transmit stamina to his offspring.
“We have so much speed influence in our breeding today,” Baffert said. “That’s why Empire Maker has been such a great sire, because he stretches that speed out but still leaves the speed in there.”
Speaking to the physical characteristics of the sire’s progeny, Baffert noted that Empire Maker yearlings “have some stretch to them; they aren’t short-legged; they have some body to them. But the main thing is they look fast, and the ones I like are the ones that look fast.”