2003 Belmont Stakes Winner
Sire: Unbridled
Grandsire: Fappiano
Dam: Toussaud
Damsire: El Gran Senor
Sex: Stallion
Foaled: 2000
Country: United States
Colour: Dark Bay
Breeder: Juddmonte Farms
Owner: Juddmonte Farms
Trainer: Bobby Frankel
Jockey: Jerry Bailey
Record:8 Starts: 4 - 3 - 1
Earnings: $1,985,800
Major races: Florida Derby, Belmont Stakes, Wood Memorial
Awards: American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse (2003)
Post Career: Empire Maker was retired to stand at stud beginning in 2004 at his owner's Juddmonte Farms in Lexington, Kentucky. His American-bred offspring include Bodemeister and Royal Delta. Through Pioneerof the Nile, he is the grand-sire of American Pharoah, 2015 U.S. Triple Crown winner. Through Bodemeister he is the grandsire of 2017 Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming.
In November 2010 Empire Maker was sold to the Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association and stood at the Shizunai Stallion Station. In September 2015, it was announced that Empire Maker would be returning to the U.S.[5] to stand at Gainesway Farm starting in 2016.
Died January 18, 2020 from a rare disease that compromised his immune system
Empire Maker was a powerful and brilliant colt who won the 2003 Belmont Stakes and went on to become one of the most important sires of the modern era. He was foaled in 2000 and trained by Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel for Juddmonte Farms, the breeding empire of Prince Khalid Abdullah. His sire was the great Unbridled, the 1990 Kentucky Derby winner, and his dam was Toussaud, a top broodmare by El Gran Senor. He carried as much pedigree as any horse of his generation.
Empire Maker showed his class as a three year old in 2003. He won the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park and then took the Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct in his final Derby prep. He went into the 2003 Kentucky Derby as the morning line favorite, but on a wet track in Louisville he was upset by the gelding Funny Cide. Empire Maker finished second, just under length back. His connections decided to skip the Preakness Stakes, which Funny Cide also won, ending the Triple Crown bid.
The two met again in the 2003 Belmont Stakes at the mile and a half distance, and this time the result was different. Empire Maker, ridden by jockey Jerry Bailey, sat in a perfect spot, ran down Funny Cide in the stretch, and won by three quarters of a length. The win gave Bobby Frankel his first classic victory and confirmed Empire Maker as a true champion. He retired soon after with 4 wins from 8 starts and earnings of nearly 2 million dollars.
Empire Maker went to stud at Juddmonte Farms in Kentucky and quickly became a top sire. He was sold to Japan in 2010 and stood there for several years before returning to America at Gainesway Farm. His best son was Pioneerof the Nile, who finished second in the 2009 Kentucky Derby and sired American Pharoah, the 2015 Triple Crown winner. Empire Maker also sired Bodemeister, Royal Delta, and many other graded stakes winners. He passed away in 2020. His blood runs through some of the greatest horses of the past 20 years, and his legacy is still growing.
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