LAST GUNFIGHTER, a back-to-back graded stakes winner this year, put in a strong closing drive to finish runner-up to multiple G1 SW Flat Out (by Flatter) in Belmont’s $350,000 Suburban H.-G2 at 1 1/8 miles. Earlier this year, the 4-year-old colt by FIRST SAMURAI was a 4 1/4-length winner of the 1 3/16-mile $300,000 Pimlico Special S.-G3 and a two-length winner of Aqueduct’s 1 1/8-mile Excelsior S.-G3. He has three wins and a second in four starts in 2013, and has six wins and five placings from 11 career starts, and earnings of over $545,000.
BAFFLE ME, a 4-year-old stakes-winning filly by FIRST SAMURAI, led most of the way and finished runner-up in Belmont’s $100,000 Fairy Garden S. Setting solid fractions in this 1 1/16-mile turf event, BAFFLE ME responded down the stretch but was caught inside the final furlong to be beaten 1 1/4 lengths, although she was three lengths in front of the third-place filly. Last year, she won Belmont’s Banner Gala S.
CARVE closed from last to place in Monmouth’s $100,000 Long Branch S. Racing at the back of the pack early on going 1 1/16 miles, the 3-year-old son of FIRST SAMURAI was bumped while between foes outside the 1/4-pole, then finished with energy to grab third. In his fourth career start, CARVE closed to place in the $1,000,000 Arkansas Derby-G1.