First Defence made good in his first start on grass. The 4-year-old son of UnbridledÕs Song won by a head in the June 15 Jaipur Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Belmont Park. The victory was his first in a graded stakes.

First Defence, whose other stakes win came last year in the Long Branch BreedersÕ Cup Stakes at Monmouth Park, races as a homebred for Khalid AbdullahÕs Juddmonte Farms. Juddmonte long has been recognized as one of racingÕs premier homebred operations.

First DefenceÕs dam, Honest Lady, was a successful sprinter for Juddmonte prior to becoming a broodmare in 2001. By Seattle Slew, Honest Lady faced fillies and colts in some tough spots. Against distaffers, she won the Santa Monica (gr. I), A Gleam (gr. II), and Distaff BreedersÕ Cup (gr. II) Handicaps and the Santa Ynez Stakes (gr. II). Against males, she ran second in the BreedersÕ Cup Sprint (gr. I) to subsequent champion Kona Gold and was runner-up in the Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I).

Honest LadyÕs pedigree also makes the mare special. She not only is by the great Seattle Slew, but her dam, Toussaud, is a grade I winner and a Kentucky Broodmare of the Year. The only female stakes winner from her dam, Honest Lady is a half-sister to grade I winners Chester House, Chiselling, and Empire Maker, and a half-sister to grade II winner Decarchy.

First DefenceÕs victory in the Jaipur came eight days after the victory by Juddmonte homebred Ventura in the Just a Game Stakes (gr. IT) at Belmont. Ventura is by Chester House, who stood at Juddmonte prior to his death in 2003.

Honest Lady is kept at Juddmonte near Lexington, where Empire Maker stands at stud. Winner of the 2003 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) over Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and Preakness (gr. I) winner Funny Cide, Empire Maker ranks 16th on the second-crop sires list by 2008 progeny earnings.

Honest Lady also is the dam of French stakes winner Phantom Rose. The daughter of Danzig set a track record at Hollywood Park.

Both Honest LadyÕs 3-year-old daughter Honest Pursuit and 2-year-old daughter Honest Quality are winners this year. Honest LadyÕs youngest offspring is a GiantÕs Causeway colt born this year. Honest Lady is in foal to Street Cry.

UnbridledÕs Song has sired 67 stakes winners. His eight stakes winners this year also include Eight Belles (gr. II) and Noonmark (gr. III). Eight Belles suffered an injury after finishing second in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and was euthanized. UnbridledÕs Song stands for $150,000 at the Taylor familyÕs Taylor Made Farm near Nicholasville, Ky.ÑD.S.