STACKED DECK became FIRST SAMURAI’s newest Graded stakes winner with his score in the Bold Venture S.-G3. The 4-year-old forced the pace from the start in this 6 1/2-furlong sprint on Woodbine’s all-weather surface. He challenged for the lead on the turn, disposed of that one in the stretch and then held off a late closer to get the win by a neck. The internal fractions were :22 /2/5, :44 4/5 and 1:08 3/5, and the final time of 1:14 3/5 was only 1/5 second off the track record. Earlier this year, STACKED DECK placed in the one mile King Edward S.-G2 on Woodbine’s turf course. The Bruce Lunsford homebred was a 6 1/2-length Maiden Special Weight winner at two and won the Charley Barley S. in his first start as a 3-year-old. Selling on Monday at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale is his half-brother by WAR FRONT, hip 109.
