JUSTIN PHILLIP
On August 5th, this 4-year-old colt by FIRST SAMURAI finished just a neck back in the six-furlong Alfred G. Vanderbilt H.-G1 on a muddy track at Saratoga. Never more than three lengths off the leaders, JUSTIN PHILLIP swung out wide for the stretch drive and battled to the wire for this narrow loss. In June, he put in a determined effort to finish runner-up in the True North H.-G2, less than a length back. He has now won or placed in his last five starts in 2012. Last year, JUSTIN PHILLIP won the Woody Stephens S.-G2 and placed in the King’s Bishop S.-G1, Jerome S.-G2 and the Bay Shore S.-G3.
GET HAPPY MISTER
On August 4th, this 2-year-old colt by FIRST SAMURAI remained undefeated in three starts after leading gate to wire to take the 5 1/2-furlong Silver Cup Futurity by 7 1/4 lengths at Arapahoe. On July 15, GET HAPPY MISTER demolished the field to win the CTBA Futurity by 10 1/2 lengths, and in his Maiden Special Weight debut, he wired the field winning by 4 1/4 lengths. He has now won his three starts by a combined 22 lengths.
NAKANO
This 4-year-old filly by FIRST SAMURAI made a move on the turn, went six wide into the stretch and continued on through the lane to place in the 6 1/2-furlong Barb’s Dancer S. on the dirt at Calder. In her previous start and only third of the year, NAKANO closed down the stretch to place in the six-furlong Princess Rooney H.-G1, a little more than three lengths behind 2011 Champion Female Sprinter Musical Romance. She has now won or placed in eight 11 career starts.
PLETHORA
On August 3rd, this 3-year-old filly by FIRST SAMURAI dueled for the lead most of the way to place in the one mile Northlands Oaks. In her stakes debut on July 14, PLETHORAled wire-to-wire to win the R. K. (Red) Smith H. at one mile. And the race prior, this Claiborne-bred filly also wired the field, winning a six-furlong allowance by the huge margin of 12 1/2 lengths. She has now won or placed in five of her last six starts this year.