Naval Command sails to victory in Lousiana

Juvenile filly is first Stakes winner by freshman sire Midshipman

The two-year-old filly Naval Command wasn't the first of Midshipman's seven winners but she was the first of his progeny to win two races and today, in the Listed Happy Ticket Stakes at Louisiana Downs, she has become her sire's first Stakes winner from his first crop.

Just as she did in her last-out, nine and one-half length allowance victory at Gulfstream Park, Naval Command kept the leaders in her sites running just behind the leaders for most of the one-mile turf event. As the field started down the lane, she grabbed the lead and fought bravely down the stretch for the win.

Bred by Woodford Thoroughbreds, Naval Command also placed second in her second start in the Listed Cassidy Stakes, also at Gulfstream Park. She is out of the Fusaichi Pegasus mare Lucky Flyer, whose dam is Stakes winner Beautiful Crazy. The family traces to G1 Kentucky Oaks winner Lucky Lucky Lucky.

Freshman sire Midshipman won the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile and G1 Del Mar Futurity before being crowned Eclipse Champion Two-Year-Old. His time in the Juvenile is still remains the fastest clocking in the one and one-sixteenth mile event. He's one of the top freshman sire of two-year-olds this year, including prices of $560,000, $300,00, $260,000, etc.