First Samurai to Claiborne!

sunday_silence · Postby **sunday_silence** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 10:17 pm

I don't think they have anything to be embarassed about with First Sam. He's simply not a horse who's going to get more than a mile. They tried, as well they should have, but it didn't work. If they pick the right spots from here on out, he can still do some damage. It'd be a damn shame if they retired him now and there's no shame in being a miler. There's no reason why he can't still be successful. He's just not a TC horse.

Pete · Postby **Pete** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 10:56 pm

Hi all,

First Samurai was a very good 2yo and more modest 3yo (to date). Perhaps he's distance challenged but it would seem as much to be that others caught up to and surpassed him. I'm sure that they'd like a graded win and $1,000,000 in earnings before he's retired and that's a good possibilty.

Claiborne gets a nice stallion prospect, I believe his fee will be higher than I'd like but the loser is Coolmore who still hasn't had a dirt colt of classic abilities from Giant's Causeway.

Regards,

Pete

BJ · Postby BJ » Sun Apr 16, 2006 11:39 pm

reese wrote:
FOS wrote:

Is it unfair to suggest that Claiborne today is barely a shadow of what it was in years gone by?

Best to you.

Respectfully

They seem to have a penchant for selling promising stallion prospects...
Coronado's Quest is a far better stallion than any they have now.

Didn't Coronado's Quest die? Wow...if he's better dead than First Samurai is alive... :shock:

He does have an ominous/forboding name to end up in Japan though :roll:

BJ · Postby BJ » Sun Apr 16, 2006 11:50 pm

Pete wrote:Hi FOS,

It's not fair to talk about shadows at Claiborne because they cut down a lot of trees.

On the plus side, I absolutely respect Claiborne's policies regarding book size and shuttling.

Regards,

Pete

Sadly, the attempt to set a more quality breeding standard (on some levels) may make them less competitive to blaze such breeding trails, which would really be, to return to more quality days/ways of breeding quality thoroughbreds.

summerhorse · Postby **summerhorse** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 11:47 am

If they accept that First Samurai is NOT going to get a distance (unless it is against very weak competition) and make a sprinter out of him they could pick up a few Gr1s and maybe even a Breeder's Cup win (hey it could happen).

Pete · Postby **Pete** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 12:42 pm

Hi Summerhorse,

That's an ambitious plan for a horse that's shows no improvement from his 2yo year.

Look at his PPs and you'll see a colt similar to Favorite Trick.

Regards,

Pete

Tairaterces · Postby **Tairaterces** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 1:14 pm

Can someone please explain what First Samurai's "breathing problem" is?
I keep reading he has one . . . but what is it?

Thx,
T

austique · Postby **austique** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 1:25 pm

I'd probably go with Pete's assessment of the horse. He was described early last year as "a man among boys"...problem is boys grow up and he proved not as special when his contemporaries caught up with him physically.

He's like a carton of milk. He's past the date of expiration, but they're smelling him cause they really want some milk on their Toasty O's.

The thing that really turns me off about him is the way he washes out before every race.

summerhorse · Postby **summerhorse** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 2:51 pm

I didn't say he WOULD happen but it COULD happen. If Bold Forbes can win the Belmont I think First Samurai has a shot at the Vosburgh and by the time BC rolls around who knows how many horses will be left standing?

He's not run THAT much yet so I'd give him more time before proclaiming him an abject failure at 3... :wink:

Pete · Postby **Pete** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 4:41 pm

Hi Austique and Summerhorse,

The comparison to expiration on a milk carton was great - I'll remember that.

I'm not sure what Bold Forbes winning the Belmont has to do with First Samurai's ability to win a grade 1 sprint but I'll take your word for it.

Regards,

Pete

BJ · Postby BJ » Mon Apr 17, 2006 6:52 pm

summerhorse wrote: He's not run THAT much yet so I'd give him more time before proclaiming him an abject failure at 3...

Washing out badly every time he races is oftentimes an indication of soundness ouchies.

summerhorse · Postby **summerhorse** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 7:18 am

It can also just be an indication of nerves.

Bold Forbes was a sprinter/miler at heart, it was his trainer that got him to last not only 1 1/2 m but 1 1/4 miles.

If he can be stretched out it isn't beyond the realm of reason that First Samurai can do well in sprints when he appears to be a very good sprinter. Give him time, its not EVEN May.