Sharp Sumurai (First Samurai) looks to kick off his 2019 season with a win in Monday's GI Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita. During his sophomore season, the bay won a trio of graded stakes, including Santa Anita's nine-furlong Twilight Derby before rounding out the year with a fourth in the GI Hollywood Derby. Returning with a score in a Santa Anita optional claimer last June, the gelding was a neck behind winner Catapult (Kitten's Joy) in Del Mar's GII Eddie Read S. over 1 1/8 miles in July before crossing the wire third, and was later promoted to second via DQ, in the GII Del Mar Mile H. in August. Most recently, Sharp Samurai came from just off the space to nab a nose victory in Santa Anita's GII City of Hope Mile S. Oct. 6. Catapult, a two-time Grade II winner in 2018, was narrowly bested by Ohio (Elusive Quality) in his most recent start in the GI Frank E. Kilroe Mile S. at Santa Anita Mar. 30. A close-up second in last fall's GI Breeders' Cup Mile at Churchill Downs, Catapult launched this term with a fourth in the inaugural $7,000,000 GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S. at Gulfstream Jan. 26. Also exiting Gulfstream's Pegasus, Delta Prince (Street Cry {Ire}), who finished third, returned to register an impressive victory in Keeneland's GI Maker's 46 Mark Mile S. Apr. 12.
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