FIRST SAMURAI saw son Sacred Samurai put in a huge run on Keeneland’s closing card when the Joe Sharp trainee won a Maiden Special Weight by 5 ½ lengths in only his second start.
The 3-year-old colt broke a step slow in the 6 ½ furlong race but was quickly into stride and challenging for the lead. The challenge quickly turned into the winner having command of the race as Sacred Samurai started to pull away once his nose was in front.
Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. let Sacred Samurai win as easily as he pleased with only two horses within 11 ½ lengths of Sacred Samurai at the line.
Owned by Big E Stables, the FIRST SAMURAI colt was bred in Kentucky by Helen Alexander and Stuart Huston, LP.
Sacred Samurai is the first foal out of a half-sister to the stakes winning Surfside Tiara and his granddam is a half-sister to stakes-placed Chatham, who is best known as the dam of WAR FRONT’s champion son Air Force Blue. In all, there are seven stakes horses including six stakes winners under the colt’s third dam.
FIRST SAMURAI’s current 3-year-old class includes three stakes performers, led by the dual Grade 1-placed Tarabi.