First Samurai in Gulfstream Workout; No Decision on Next Start

sinkwiEdited Gulfstream Park report
In his first workout since finishing second in the $150,000 Hutcheson Stakes (gr. II) Feb. 4, Bruce Lunsford and Lansdon Robbins III's 3-year-old First Samurai drilled five furlongs in :59 2/5 Thursday morning at Gulfstream Park.

Trainer Frank Brothers remains undecided about where the two-time irade I winner will start next.

"He worked well," said Brothers. "It was fine. We're still undecided about what's next. End of story."

The trainer's wife, Donna Barton-Brothers, was aboard the talented son of Giant's Causeway  . First Samurai galloped out six furlongs in 1:13 1/5.

Immediately after First Samurai's runner-up effort behind Keyed Entry in the Hutcheson, Brothers indicated another start at Gulfstream was probably in the cards, but wanted to keep all his options available.

Gulfstream Park options are the $300,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) March 4 and/or the $1 million Florida Derby (gr. I) April 1, both at 1 1/8 miles.

Also working at Gulfstream Thursday was Dogwood Stable's 3-year-old colt Sinkwich, who worked a 'bullet' five furlongs in :59 1/5 for trainer Frank Alexander.

A son of Trippi, Sinkwich remains a maiden after five starts, but did finish second in his first two starts last year at Belmont Park and Aqueduct and was third last out here on Feb. 6 at six furlongs racing for an $80,000 claiming price.

Like his sire, Sinkwich is named for a two-time All-American running back for the University of Georgia in the 1940s. Charley Trippi went on to star for the 1947 Chicago Cardinals NFL Championship team and was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968. Frank 'Flatfoot' Sinkwich won the Heisman Trophy in 1942, the first player from a southeastern university to be so honored. He went on to a pro career with the Detroit Lions and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1954.

Dogwood president Cot Campbell spent much of his early professional life in the ad agency business in Atlanta before becoming a pioneer in syndicating horses, beginning in the late 1960s.