First Samurai gears up for Fountain of Youth

First Samurai is readying for his next stop on the Triple Crown Trail (Michael J. Marten/Horsephotos.com)

Multiple Grade 1 winner FIRST SAMURAI (Giant's Causeway) worked a mile in

1:37 3/5 over Gulfstream Park's fast main track on Friday for trainer Frank

Brothers. The chestnut is preparing for his second start of the year, the

nine-furlong Fountain of Youth S. (G2) on March 4 at Gulfstream.

With Brothers' wife, Donna Barton-Brothers, in the saddle, the sophomore colt

took to the track after the final renovation break. Jogging the wrong way down

the track, First Samurai turned and galloped back, breaking off at the mile pole

and recording splits of :49 2/5, 1:01 3/5 and 1:13 3/5. He was clocked galloping

out 1 1/8 miles in 1:53 3/5.

"He worked fine," Brothers said after the move. "He lost interest a little

bit in the stretch, but young horses will do that. That's about it for him (in

terms of works before the race). Now it's time to 'walk the walk.' The proof is

in the pudding."

First Samurai broke his maiden by 5 1/2 lengths in his debut, then went on to

take a Saratoga allowance by six easy lengths. He made his stakes debut in the

Hopeful S. (G1), posting a 4 1/4-length score in the seven-furlong test, and

stretched out to a mile when earning a 2 3/4-length victory in the Champagne S.

(G1). His first loss came in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), where he ran

third as the favorite. In his sophomore debut, First Samurai finished second in

the Hutcheson S. (G2) to Keyed Entry (Honour and Glory), who set a track record

for the 7 1/2-furlong distance.