'Rising Star' First Mission Returns Victoriously at Keeneland

10th-Keeneland, $120,000, Alw (NW2$X), Opt. Clm ($80,000), 10-14, 3yo/up, 1 1/16m, 1:45.63, ft, neck.
FIRST MISSION (c, 3, Street Sense–Elude, by Medaglia d'Oro), making his first start since winning this track's GIII Lexington S. during the April meeting, validated 2-5 favoritism–if only just–to give Godolphin a sweep of the late Daily Double. Off alertly from the inside stall, the homebred allowed himself to be taken back to sit in the second flight of horses behind a pace that was slow to materialize. Up into third and remaining glued to the fence entering the far turn following a half-mile that was clocked in just :49.73, First Mission came under a Luis Saez ride with 2 1/2 furlongs to race, but was scrubbed on vigorously to pick up the bridle. Short of running room in upper stretch behind a wall of horses, First Mission was forced to come across the heels of several rivals to find daylight five off the rail with time ticking away and kicked home gamely to prevail. The homebred earned a 96 Beyer on Fair Grounds sprint debut Feb. 18, good for only second to 'Rising Star' Bishops Bay (Uncle Mo) before dusting rivals by 6 1/2 lengths to pick up his own 'Rising Star' laurels. After besting future GI Woody Stephens S. hero Arabian Lion (Justify) in the Lexington, First Mission was being pointed to a start in the GI Preakness S., but a left hind issue forced his withdrawal 36 hours prior to the race. A daughter of Argentinan champion Forty Marchanta (Arg) (Roar), Elude is bred on that same Medaglia d'Oro cross over Forty Niner mares that has resulted in the likes of Rachel Alexandra, Songbird and Elate, to name a few. The mare was purchased by Oussama Aboughazale's International Equities Holding for $105,000 infoal to Street Sense at Keeneland January in 2022 and that full-brother to First Mission was hammered down to Richard Santulli's Colts Neck Stable for $500,000 at Keeneland September last month. Elude produced a colt by Protonico in 2023 and was bred to Life Is Good this past season. Lifetime Record: GSW, 4-3-1-0, $348,110. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brad H Cox.

(1) First Mission prevails in a tight race to the finish in race 10. (9) Commandperformance comes in second and (7) Cooke Creek takes third. pic.twitter.com/ClBLET4Svw

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