First Samurai is an American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse foaled on February 2, 2003. A talented colt with a strong pedigree, he emerged as one of the top juveniles of his generation. As a two-year-old in 2005, he captured the prestigious Hopeful Stakes and the Champagne Stakes, quickly marking himself as a contender for the Triple Crown in 2006.
Going into his three-year-old season, expectations were high. He began the year with a victory in the Fountain of Youth Stakes, albeit via disqualification of the original winner. However, in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland Race Course, a starting gate incident hampered his performance, and he finished fifth. Two weeks later, veterinary examinations revealed that he had sustained two broken ribs during the race, diagnosed via ultrasound. As a result, he was withdrawn from the Kentucky Derby, and the Blue Grass proved to be the final race of his career.
Connections First Samurai was bred in Kentucky by John D. Gunther. He was owned by Bruce Lunsford, Tom Hansen, Tom Morris, and Raymond Coudriet, and trained by Frank Brothers. Over the course of his racing career, he was ridden by notable jockeys such as Pat Day and Jerry Bailey (both now retired), as well as Edgar Prado, who was still active during First Samurai's racing years.
Racing record Finish Race Distance Track Condition 5th Blue Grass Stakes Keeneland Race Course Fast 1st (by DQ) Fountain of Youth Stakes Gulfstream Park Fast 2nd Hutcheson Stakes Gulfstream Park Sloppy 3rd Breeders' Cup Juvenile Belmont Park Fast 1st Champagne Stakes Belmont Park Sloppy (sealed) 1st Hopeful Stakes Saratoga Race Course Fast 1st Allowance Saratoga Race Course Fast 1st Maiden Churchill Downs Fast
In his career, which was cut short by injury, he started 8 times, winning 5 races, placing in 1, and showing in 1, earning a total of $915,075.
Stud career First Samurai was retired to stud at the Hancock family's Claiborne Farm near Paris, Kentucky. His introductory stud fee in 2007 was $40,000. Standing alongside other Claiborne stallions such as Pulpit, Seeking the Gold, During, Eddington, and Strong Hope, he quickly became a notable sire.
First Samurai's descendants include:
c = colt, f = filly Foaled Name Sex Major Wins 2009 Lea c Donn Handicap, Hal's Hope Stakes 2008 Justin Phillip c Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap, Count Fleet Sprint Handicap 2009 Last Gunfighter c Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap, Philip H. Iselin Stakes, Pimlico Special 2009 Northern Passion c Natalma Stakes 2010 Executiveprivilege c Chandelier Stakes, Del Mar Debutante Stakes 2011 Stacked Deck c Kennedy Road Stakes, Bold Venture Stakes 2014 Sharp Samurai c City of Hope Mile Stakes, Twilight Derby, Del Mar Derby 2014 Miss Sky Warrior f Gazelle Stakes, Davona Dale Stakes, Demoiselle Stakes 2016 Cutting Humor c Sunland Derby
Pedigree
References
External links First Samurai's pedigree National Thoroughbred Racing Association bio