First Samurai (horse)

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 As a result, he was withdrawn from the Kentucky Derby, and the Blue Grass proved to be the final race of his career.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, as well as Edgar Prado, who was still active during First Samurai's racing years.

Racing record

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