Bird Town-Empire Maker set

This year's Kentucky Oaks winner, Bird Town, will be bred to first-year stallion and Belmont Stakes winner Empire Maker in 2004. Juddmonte Farms in Lexington, Ky., where Empire Maker will stand for $100,000, confirmed that Bird Town is in the stallion's book.

Garrett O'Rourke manager of Juddmonte, said that Empire Maker's book will be limited to 100 mares, of which 10 to 12 probably will be Juddmonte mares.

Bird Town, a homebred who raced for Marylou Whitney, won the Kentucky Oaks, Acorn Stakes, and Charon Stakes this year for trainer Nick Zito.

A 3-year-old Cape Town-Dear Birdie filly, she was retired from racing in October.