foxsports
ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) Classic Empire stamped himself the early favorite for next year's Kentucky Derby by holding off Not This Time to win the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
The 2-year-old son of Pioneerof the Nile took the lead entering the stretch and outfinished Not This Time by a neck on Saturday at Santa Anita.
Pioneerof the Nile, who finished second in the 2009 Kentucky Derby, sired last year's Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.
Ridden by Julien Leparoux and trained by Kentucky-based Mark Casse, Classic Empire ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.60 and paid $11, $5 and $3.80 as the 9-2 second choice.
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Not This Time, the 5-2 favorite, returned $4.60 and $3.40, while Practical Joke was another 7 1/2 lengths back in third and paid $4.60 to show.
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