TDN RISING STARS

March 18, 2023 - Fair Grounds, Race 7, Msw, USD $50,000, 1 1/16M

First Mission, C, 3, 2020 by Street Sense

1st Dam: Elude, by Medaglia d'Oro
2nd Dam: Forty Marchanta (Arg), by Roar
3rd Dam: Marcha Toss (Arg), by Egg Toss

Owner: Godolphin
Breeder: Godolphin (KY)
Trainer: Brad H. Cox

First Mission (c, 3, Street Sense-Elude, by Medaglia d'Oro), a strong second on debut behind his highly regarded Brad Cox-trained stablemate Bishops Bay (Uncle Mo) with a gaudy 96 Beyer sprinting at Fair Grounds Feb. 18, ran to the money as the 1-5 favorite with a 'TDN Rising Star' performance in his two-turn debut in New Orleans Saturday.

Fractious in the gate, the Godolphin homebred shot out to front and bobbled slightly shortly after the start. The blinkered dark bay recovered nicely and tracked in the garden spot in second. He struck the front 2 1/2 furlongs from home and ran up the score in the stretch to win under a hand ride by 6 3/4 impressive lengths over St. John's (Hard Spun).

First Mission becomes the 15th 'Rising Star' for Street Sense. He was produced by the winning Medaglia d'Oro mare Elude, a daughter of Argentinian champion 3-year-old filly and MG1SW Forty Marchanta (Arg) (Roar). Elude, purchased by International Equities Holding for $105,000 at the 2022 KEEJAN sale, produced a full-brother to First Mission in 2022 and was bred back to Protonico.

The aforementioned Bishops Bay returns in an optional claimer going two turns at Fair Grounds Sunday.

Featured earlier this week in Steve Sherack's 'Second Chances' series, click here for more on First Mission, including comments from Godolphin's Michael Banahan.