Unbridled the key for breeders dreaming of Kentucky Derby glory

It will be another two years before we see the return of juveniles by the former Japanese-based Empire Maker on North American tracks.

But the current lack of a full representation in his homeland hasn’t prevented his stock from rising as sons Pioneerof The Nile and Bodemeister do their bit to ensure his legacy.

On Saturday, Bodemeister became the second son of Empire Maker to sire a Kentucky Derby winner when Always Dreaming made light of the sloppy conditions for an impressive score. It is only two years since Pioneerof The Nile’s son American Pharoah took the race en route to sweeping the Triple Crown, and therefore Saturday’s result marked the second occasion within the past three runnings that Empire Maker - still only 17-years-old - had featured as paternal grandsire of the Kentucky Derby winner.