True Empress victorious in Arctic Queen

True Empress returned to stakes company for the first time in more than three years Monday and came away with a victory in the $50,000 Arctic Queen at Finger Lakes.

Owned by J and M Racing Stables, James O’Driscoll and Elvira Falco, True Empress won the 6-furlong Labor Day feature by 1 ¾ lengths under Luis Perez for trainer Michael Ferraro. The 5-2 third choice in the field of six improved to 2-for-8 on the season with $65,621 earned.

Bred by Magnolia Mares LLC, the 6-year-old daughter of Classic Empire originally sold to Reeves Thoroughbred Racing out of the Sequel New York consignment for $135,000 as a weanling at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga fall mixed sale. She started her career for Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and R. A. Hill Stable and trainer George Weaver, winning in her fifth start and finishing fifth in the Bouwerie Stakes at Belmont Park in her seventh start.

True Empress was claimed for $16,000 by trainer Carlos Martin and J and M Racing Stables out of a victory in mid-September 2022 during the Belmont at the Big A meeting. She raced for Martin through May 2023 before making her first start for Ferraro at Finger Lakes in late June 2023.

The winner of an allowance race at Finger Lakes in late June, True Empress came into the Arctic Queen off a third in a $93,000 allowance July 30 at Saratoga Race Course.

Matched up against 7-5 favorite Zi End and stakes winner Caldwell Luvs Gold, True Empress came away last of six and raced 4 lengths behind Sandy’s Garden through the opening quarter-mile in :23.47.

True Empress made up ground around the turn and inched into third, just a length behind Sandy’s Garden past the half in :47.23. True Empress continued on well from there, zipped past the eighth pole a length in front and edged away under pressure late to win in 1:11.71. Sandy’s Garden held second, 2 lengths clear of Caldwell Luvs Gold with Zi End fourth. The Shoe Lady and Missing Fortune completed the field.

True Empiress, who improved to 14-for-44 with earnings of $446,202, is the second foal out of the stakes-placed Yes It’s True mare For All You Know. She’s the dam of the winning Good Magic colt Thawban and the 2-year-old Knicks Go filly Fulanita who sold for $20,000 at the OBS June sale.

For All You Know sold in foal to Mitole for $38,000 at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Digital February sale. She’s the dam of a yearling filly by Mitole and a weanling colt by Endorsed, both bred in Maryland by Golden Lion Racing.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2025/09/01/true-empress-victorious-in-arctic-queen/

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