Graded Stakes Winner Last Samurai to Stand in Arkansas

Millionaire and multiple Oaklawn Park stakes winner Last Samurai   has been retired to begin a stallion career in Arkansas in 2025, said Eddie Milligan Jr., who trained the 6-year-old son of Malibu Moon at the end of his racing career. 

Randy Patterson said he will stand Last Samurai at Lake Hamilton Equine, just west of Hot Springs, Ark. Patterson owns Cedar Run Farm, a nearby foaling facility. Patterson said Last Samurai's fee will be $2,000, adding the family of Willis Horton will retain ownership in the horse. 

Last Samurai was bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, and is out of the graded stakes-placed mare Lady Samuri (First Samurai  ), making him a half brother to the stakes-winning Candy Raid. 

Last Samurai, a $175,000 purchase at the 2020 Ocala Breeders' March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training by the late Willis Horton, compiled a 6-5-4 record from 32 lifetime starts and earned $2,257,109. 

All four of Last Samurai's stakes victories came at Oaklawn. Last Samurai, then with trainer Dallas Stewart, won the $150,000 Poinsettia Stakes in 2021 and the $1 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) the following year. Last Samurai won the $600,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) and $500,000 Essex Handicap (G3) in 2023 for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas.

Last Samurai was winless in four starts this year, including sixth-place finishes in the Oaklawn Mile Stakes (G3) and Oaklawn Handicap last spring in Hot Springs. His final start came Aug. 4.