| First Samurai | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Giant's Causeway |
| Grandsire | Storm Cat |
| Dam | Freddie Frisson |
| Damsire | Dixieland Band |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | February 2, 2003 |
| Country | United States |
| Colour | Chestnut |
| Breeder | John D. Gunther |
| Owner | Bruce Lunsford, Tom Hansen, Tom Morris & Lansdon B. Robbins III |
| Trainer | Frank L. Brothers |
| Record | 8: 5–1–1 |
| Earnings | $915,075 |
| Major wins | |
| Hopeful Stakes (2005) Champagne Stakes (2005) Fountain of Youth Stakes (2006) | |
| Last updated on August 7, 2019 | |
First Samurai was 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 As a result, he was withdrawn from the Kentucky Derby, and the Blue Grass proved to be the final race of his career.[ citation needed ]
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 (both now retired), as well as Edgar Prado, who was still active during First Samurai’s racing years.
| Finish | Race | Distance | Track | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5th | Blue Grass Stakes | 1⅛ miles | Keeneland Race Course | Fast |
| 1st (by DQ) | Fountain of Youth Stakes | 1⅛ miles | Gulfstream Park | Fast |
| 2nd | Hutcheson Stakes | 7½ furlongs | Gulfstream Park | Sloppy |
| 3rd | Breeders' Cup Juvenile | 1¹⁄₁₆ miles | Belmont Park | Fast |
| 1st | Champagne Stakes | 1 mile | Belmont Park | Sloppy (sealed) |
| 1st | Hopeful Stakes | 7 furlongs | Saratoga Race Course | Fast |
| 1st | Allowance | 6 furlongs | Saratoga Race Course | Fast |
| 1st | Maiden | 6 furlongs | Churchill Downs | Fast |
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.
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: [1]
| 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 |
| Sire Giant's Causeway (USA) 1997 | Storm Cat (USA) 1983 | Storm Bird | Northern Dancer |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Ocean | |||
| Terlingua | Secretariat | ||
| Crimson Saint | |||
| Mariah's Storm (USA) 1991 | Rahy | Blushing Groom | |
| Glorious Song | |||
| Immense | Roberto | ||
| Imsodear | |||
| Dam Freddie Frisson (USA) 1993 | Dixieland Band (USA) 1980 | Northern Dancer | Nearctic |
| Natalma | |||
| Mississippi Mud | Delta Judge | ||
| Sand Buggy | |||
| Frisson (USA) 1988 | Fappiano | Mr. Prospector | |
| Killaloe | |||
| Mavera | Reviewer | ||
| Miz Spock |