Belladonna Racing to $270,000 for Empire Maker Colt from Family of A.P. Indy

Hip 1374, a colt by Empire Maker, sold for $270,000 during the final session of the Kentucky October Yearlings sale. The bay colt was purchased by Belladonna Racing LLC from the consignment of Bluewater Sales, agent.

Empire Maker is the sire of 12 Grade 1 winners to date, including recent American Pharoah S. (G1) winner Eight Rings; Pioneerof the Nile, sire of 2015 Triple Crown hero American Pharoah; and Bodemeister, sire of Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Always Dreaming in his first crop.

This colt is a half-brother to two winners out of the Storm Cat mare Surprises Welcomed, including Curlinesque, an impressive winner on debut last month at Churchill Downs for Belladonna Racing. Second of dam is graded stakes winner Welcome Surprise, dam of seven winners from as many to race, including the dam of graded stakes winner Guest Suite.

This is the immediate family of Broodmare of the Year Weekend Surprise (Secretariat), whose nine winners include Horse of the Year and breed-shaping sire A.P. Indy multiple Grade 1 winner Summer Squall. Weekend Surprise is also a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Wolfhound and second dam of Grade 1 winning millionaire Court Vision.

Hip 1374 was bred in Kentucky by Southern Equine Stables LLC.