At the rate Empiric’s family is going in Argentina these days, one wonders what might have been had she not died relatively young; a foal of 1966; she delivered her last foal in 1977. Still, the five daughters she left behind her have established her as one of the greatest Argentine foundation mares of all time. Over fifty Group 1 winners trace to Empiric in the direct female line, including The Great Racing, successful in Saturday’s Gran Premio Dos Mil Guineas (ARG-G1) at San Isidro. For good measure, Empiric’s family has been represented by two more Group stakes winners in the last two weeks, with Elenika scoring in the Premio Miguel Luis Morales (ARG-G2) on July 15 and Elvitas winning the Premio Eudoro J. Balsa (ARG-G3) on the undercard of the Dos Mil Guineas.
The Great Racing and Elenika both descend from Empiric’s daughter Emboscada, whose branch of the family was touched on in connection with multiple Group 1 winner Earth God (“Mares on Monday: Earth God Is the Latest Heir to Empiric’s Growing Empire,” May 27, 2024). Like Earth God, Elenika is descended from Emboscada’s daughter Esencia (by El Virtuoso), whose Group 3-winning daughter Esnaola (by Ringaro) is Earth God’s fourth dam. Elenika’s granddam East Dancer (by Oak Dancer) is a half sister to Esnaola and is represented by two stakes-producing daughters: Easter Flower (by Ride the Rails), dam of 2016 Premio Carlos P. Rodriguez (ARG-G2) winner Esmeralda Nobleza (by Halo Sunshine), and Electric Dancer (by Editor’s Note), dam of Elenika to a cover by 2012 Argentine champion miler Winning Prize (by Pure Prize).
The Great Racing is more distantly related to Elenika and Earth God as his tail-female line traces to another daughter of Emboscada, Embouche (by Ringaro). The dam of 1993 Grande Prêmio Barão de Piracicaba (BRZ-G1) winner Endurance (by Equalize) and 1992 Premio Fortunato Damiani (ARG-G3) winner Evasif (by El Asesor), Embouche also produced Embrasser (by Candy Stripes), second dam of 2013 Gran Premio Eliseo Ramírez (ARG-G1) winner Emirate’s Girl (Lizard Island x Embrasable, by Equalize).
Embrace Me, a full sister to Endurance, is Embouche’s other important daughter, and she has three Group stakes-producing daughters to her credit. Embrace Her (by Editor’s Note) is the dam of 2019 Gran Premio Criadores (ARG-G1) winner Entropia (by Mount Nelson). Emberly (by Halo Sunshine) is the dam of 2019 Premio Benito Lynch (ARG-G3) winner Emberinado (by Lizard Island) and Group 2-placed multiple listed stakes winner Es Sicario (by Lizard Island). Best of all is Embrace Moi, the 2011 Argentine Broodmare of the Year; she produced 2011 Argentine Horse of the Year Expressive Halo (by Halo Sunshine) and Group 1-placed multiple Group 3 winner Extra Quiz (by Lizard Island). Embrace Moi’s daughter Embracing Love (by Lucky Roberto) is the dam of The Great Racing (by multiple Argentine Group 1 winner The Great Day, by Harlan’s Holiday) and is also the dam of Argentine listed stakes winner Racing Seattle (Seattle Fitz).
Elvitas descends from another daughter of Empiric, Elysee (by El Gran Capitan), who was her last registered foal. This mare is is the dam of 1992 South African Horse of the Year Empress Club (by Farnesio), 1985 South African champion 2-year-old filly Ecurie (by Liloy), multiple South African Group 1 winner Epoque (by Oak Dancer), and 2001 Premio Marcos Lavalle (ARG-G2) winner Elisita). Elysee is the second dam of 1988 Argentine champion 2-year-old filly Esperada and 1995 Gran Premio Montevideo (ARG-G1) winner Espaciado; Group 2 winners Equal Stripes (a champion sire in Argentina), Equiparada, Empress Time, Excellent Note, and Empire Aztec; and Group 3 winner Esmaltina. In addition, Elysee is the third dam of 2006 South African co-champion stayer Elusive Fort; 2018 Gran Premio Provincia de Buenos Aires (ARG-G1) winner Emprestado; Group 2 winners E-Jet, Empresarial, Ajool, and Equipada a Tope; and Group 3 winners Easy Jadeasy and Empresariado.
Elvitas, a daughter of Cosmic Trigger, is descended from Elysee’s daughter Empress Day (by Equalize), the dam of Empress Time (by Acceptable; dam of Empresarial, by Sunray Spirit) and Excellent Note (by Editor’s Note). The last-named mare is the granddam of Elvitas through her daughter Excellent Bid (by Asiatic Boy).
All female families, even the best, have branches that peter out and eventually vanish as sources of high-class runners, and it is a remarkable testimony to Empiric’s genetic potency (as well as the quality of the stallions to which her family has been bred) that all five of her daughters have Group 1-winning descendants foaled in the 21st century. A century after her death, the picture may seem very differnet, but as the half-century anniversary of her passing approaches, it takes only a cursory review of Argentine racing results and pedigrees to come up with empirical evidence that the story of Empiric’s family is far from over.
The Great Racing and Elenika both descend from Empiric’s daughter Emboscada, whose branch of the family was touched on in connection with multiple Group 1 winner Earth God (“Mares on Monday: Earth God Is the Latest Heir to Empiric’s Growing Empire,” May 27, 2024). Like Earth God, Elenika is descended from Emboscada’s daughter Esencia (by El Virtuoso), whose Group 3-winning daughter Esnaola (by Ringaro) is Earth God’s fourth dam. Elenika’s granddam East Dancer (by Oak Dancer) is a half sister to Esnaola and is represented by two stakes-producing daughters: Easter Flower (by Ride the Rails), dam of 2016 Premio Carlos P. Rodriguez (ARG-G2) winner Esmeralda Nobleza (by Halo Sunshine), and Electric Dancer (by Editor’s Note), dam of Elenika to a cover by 2012 Argentine champion miler Winning Prize (by Pure Prize).
The Great Racing is more distantly related to Elenika and Earth God as his tail-female line traces to another daughter of Emboscada, Embouche (by Ringaro). The dam of 1993 Grande Prêmio Barão de Piracicaba (BRZ-G1) winner Endurance (by Equalize) and 1992 Premio Fortunato Damiani (ARG-G3) winner Evasif (by El Asesor), Embouche also produced Embrasser (by Candy Stripes), second dam of 2013 Gran Premio Eliseo Ramírez (ARG-G1) winner Emirate’s Girl (Lizard Island x Embrasable, by Equalize).
Embrace Me, a full sister to Endurance, is Embouche’s other important daughter, and she has three Group stakes-producing daughters to her credit. Embrace Her (by Editor’s Note) is the dam of 2019 Gran Premio Criadores (ARG-G1) winner Entropia (by Mount Nelson). Emberly (by Halo Sunshine) is the dam of 2019 Premio Benito Lynch (ARG-G3) winner Emberinado (by Lizard Island) and Group 2-placed multiple listed stakes winner Es Sicario (by Lizard Island). Best of all is Embrace Moi, the 2011 Argentine Broodmare of the Year; she produced 2011 Argentine Horse of the Year Expressive Halo (by Halo Sunshine) and Group 1-placed multiple Group 3 winner Extra Quiz (by Lizard Island). Embrace Moi’s daughter Embracing Love (by Lucky Roberto) is the dam of The Great Racing (by multiple Argentine Group 1 winner The Great Day, by Harlan’s Holiday) and is also the dam of Argentine listed stakes winner Racing Seattle (Seattle Fitz).
Elvitas descends from another daughter of Empiric, Elysee (by El Gran Capitan), who was her last registered foal. This mare is is the dam of 1992 South African Horse of the Year Empress Club (by Farnesio), 1985 South African champion 2-year-old filly Ecurie (by Liloy), multiple South African Group 1 winner Epoque (by Oak Dancer), and 2001 Premio Marcos Lavalle (ARG-G2) winner Elisita). Elysee is the second dam of 1988 Argentine champion 2-year-old filly Esperada and 1995 Gran Premio Montevideo (ARG-G1) winner Espaciado; Group 2 winners Equal Stripes (a champion sire in Argentina), Equiparada, Empress Time, Excellent Note, and Empire Aztec; and Group 3 winner Esmaltina. In addition, Elysee is the third dam of 2006 South African co-champion stayer Elusive Fort; 2018 Gran Premio Provincia de Buenos Aires (ARG-G1) winner Emprestado; Group 2 winners E-Jet, Empresarial, Ajool, and Equipada a Tope; and Group 3 winners Easy Jadeasy and Empresariado.
Elvitas, a daughter of Cosmic Trigger, is descended from Elysee’s daughter Empress Day (by Equalize), the dam of Empress Time (by Acceptable; dam of Empresarial, by Sunray Spirit) and Excellent Note (by Editor’s Note). The last-named mare is the granddam of Elvitas through her daughter Excellent Bid (by Asiatic Boy).
All female families, even the best, have branches that peter out and eventually vanish as sources of high-class runners, and it is a remarkable testimony to Empiric’s genetic potency (as well as the quality of the stallions to which her family has been bred) that all five of her daughters have Group 1-winning descendants foaled in the 21st century. A century after her death, the picture may seem very differnet, but as the half-century anniversary of her passing approaches, it takes only a cursory review of Argentine racing results and pedigrees to come up with empirical evidence that the story of Empiric’s family is far from over.
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