Holly Hill Graduate Wins Champagne Stakes

       First Samurai by Giant’s Causeway out of the Dixieland Band mare Freddie Frisson strengthened his position as the leader of the juvenile pack by winning the G1 Champagne Stakes on Oct 8^th.  Ridden to victory by Jerry Bailey, the colt went the mile in 1:36 1/5 over a sloppy racetrack for trainer Frank Brothers and owners Bruce Lunsford and Lansdon Robbins III.

First Samurai is now four wins from four starts with earnings of $507,675.  The colt was started and trained at the Holly Hill Training Center by SCTOBA Board Member Jane Dunn.  Dunn said, “First Samurai was a pleasure to be around.  He had a great deal of presence about him – he was like training an older horse in young horse clothing.  We thought he was special but you never know that they are this good until they run.”

First Samurai was nominated to the Inaugural South Carolina Residency Races at Philadelphia Park.  Also third and fourth place finishers in the Champagne – Superfly and Menacing were conditioned in South Carolina by Kip Elser of Kirkwood Stables.  They were also nominees to the Residency Races.  The SCTOBA wishes each of these colts continued good fortune as he continues his racing career.