First Winner for To Honor and Serve
Description:
Gainesway stallion To Honor and Serve was represented by his first winner April 19 when his first starter, French General, won his debut in the second race at Turf Paradise .
To Honor and Serve is an 8-year-old son of Bernardini —Pilfer, by Deputy Minister. His 2016 fee is $15,000 at Antony Beck's Gainesway, near Lexington. There are 97 2-year-olds in his first crop.
To Honor and Serve compiled an 8-1-3 career line from 17 starts and earned $1,798,840. He won six graded stakes, topped by the 2012 Woodward Stakes (gr. I) and 2011 Cigar Mile Handicap (gr. I).
After leading by 1 1/2 lengths into the stretch, French General won the 4 1/2-furlong race by three-quarters of length, finishing the trip in :52.50 on a fast track. The gelding was bred by Gainesway Thoroughbreds from the multiple graded stakes-winning Ecton Park mare French Park, whose four other winners include stakes winner Park Monceau.
French General's trainer, Molly Pearson, signed the $15,000 ticket for him at the 2015 Keeneland September sale for owners Bar Diamond Ranch and Kenneth Fishbein.