After a bumpy start in Saturday’s $245,000
Hopeful S. (G1), Bruce Lunsford
and Lansdon Robbins III’s FIRST SAMURAI (Giant’s Causeway) took over turning for home
in the seven-furlong event and drew clear by 4 1/4 lengths at the wire. Ridden
to victory by Jerry Bailey, the chestnut colt stopped the clock in 1:23 1/5 over
the fast Saratoga track.
Trained by Frank Brothers, First Samurai regained his footing after bumping
with Too Much Bling (Rubiano) leaving the gate and pressed that one from the
outside through opening splits of :22 1/5 and :44 4/5. Bailey and his mount
moved up to challenge for the lead entering the turn for home, with post-time
favorite Henny Hughes (Hennessy) looming just behind. As they straightened out
for the stretch run, First Samurai greenly took over under encouragement from
Bailey, getting six furlongs in 1:09 1/5, with Henny Hughes just to his outside.
But the 3-5 favorite could not get to the winner in the stretch and had to
settle for second, one length clear of Too Much Bling.
“He’s still pretty green, but any time you win a Grade 1 race in Saratoga,
it’s pretty good,” Brothers said. “I felt good going into the race, but I knew
with Henny Hughes in the race that it was going to be tough. I had things my own
way, and I was very happy with the way he finished.”
First Samurai returned $6.10, $2.50 and $2.10 at 2-1, starting the $9.70
exacta and $22 trifecta. Henny Hughes paid $2.30 and $2.10 for his efforts,
while Too Much Bling gave back $2.10 for the show. They were followed by Tizzys
No Saint (Cee’s Tizzy) and Winning Minister (Deputy Minister).
The winner was bred in the Bluegrass State by John Gunther and is out of the
multiple stakes-winning Freddie Frisson (Dixieland Band). He counts a yearling
colt by Menifee and a 2005 filly by Cherokee Run as half-siblings. This is First
Samurai’s first stakes win, and his still-perfect record now reads 3-3-0-0,
$207,675.