Beautiful Empire Streaks Home in Star Shoot

[Wandering Eyes]

Beautiful Empire (Classic Empire)'s furious kick carried the day for conditioner Mark Casse, rallying from last to run down stablemates in a brisk rendition of the Star Shoot S. at Woodbine.

The filly was far back in her first two starts over conventional dirt at Churchill Downs, fourth on debut and eighth next out. After breaking her maiden Dec. 10 over the synthetics at Turfway Park to conclude her juvenile season, the chestnut began her year with a runner-up effort Jan. 8 at the venue on first-time Lasix and finished third in a stacked rendition of the Valdale S. Feb. 12 behind old rival Marissa's Lady (Violence) and GSW Bubble Rock (More Than Ready).

The $320,000 KEESEP alumnus benefitted from the class relief last out Apr. 16 after the move north to this venue and returning to the diuretic, easily running down allowance rivals to win by four after a bumpy start. Allowed to settle after the break here, the 7-2 third choice tracked from last early, and quickly made up ground from that rail spot coming into the lane. Under right-hand urging from Emma-Jayne Wilson, Beautiful Empire kicked into high gear in the final furlong to clear rivals and win by 1 1/2 lengths over Aubrieta. Diabolic (Ire) rounded out the Casse trifecta behind her stablemates. The time for the six-furlongs was a brisk 1:08.70, only just off the track record set by the venerable Pink Lloyd (Old Forester).

​”I was actually angling to go to the outside, and the rail kind of opened up,” said Wilson post race. “Good horses, when you ask them, they run. And that's exactly what happened. She's been running lights out the whole winter. She was primed for a big effort. It was a big effort last time and she stepped up again today.”

The victress is her dam's first black-type earner and second winner from three to race. She has a 2-year-old half-brother by American Pharoah. Humor Me Colonel is expecting a foal by Munnings this season. Beautiful Empire is Classic Empire (by Pioneerof the Nile)'s fourth stakes winner. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

STAR SHOOT S., C$131,500, Woodbine, 4-30, 3yo, f, 6f (AWT), 1:08.70, ft.
1–BEAUTIFUL EMPIRE, 120, f, 3, by Classic Empire
                1st Dam: Humor Me Colonel, by Colonel John
                2nd Dam: Halo Humor, by Distorted Humor
                3rd Dam: Gilded Halo, by Gilded Time
($320,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-John C. Oxley; B-Springhouse Farm (KY); T-Mark E. Casse; J-Emma-Jayne Wilson. C$75,000. Lifetime Record: 7-3-1-1, $157,494.
2–Aubrieta, 122, f, 3, Speightster–Amethea, by Henny Hughes. O/B-Manfred & Penny Conrad (ON); T-Mark E. Casse. C$30,000.
3–Diabolic (Ire), 124, f, 3, Dark Angel (Ire)–Seafront (GB), by Foxwedge (Aus). (£90,000 Ylg '20 GOFOR). O-D. J. Stable LLC and Nexus Racing Club; B-Yeomanstown Stud (IRE); T-Mark E. Casse. C$13,750.
Margins: 1HF, HD, 1. Odds: 3.60, 3.45, 2.35.
Also Ran: Howdyoumakeurmoney, Miss Alacrity, Parlance.

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