First Mission

First Mission began his racing career as a 3-year-old in a six-furlong maiden race at Fair Grounds on Feb. 18, 2023, and earned a fast speed figure in defeat, settling for second that day by three-quarters of a length behind a repeat next-out winner while 5 1/4 lengths clear of the third-place horse.

First Mission would remain a maiden no longer. He graduated in his second lifetime start on March 18 back at Fair Grounds by 6 3/4 lengths when stretched out to two turns for the first time in a 1 1/16-mile race.

First Mission tried stakes competition in his third outing and was victorious in impressive fashion in the Grade 3 Stonestreet Lexington Stakes at Keeneland on April 15. Sent off as the 2-1 favorite on the tote board in a field of 10, First Mission stalked the pace of front running Arabian Lion most of the way, surged up the rail to challenge in mid-stretch, and wore down the leader to win by half a length in a time of 1:43.74 for the 1 1/16 miles. It was another 4 1/4 lengths back to third place finisher Disarm.

Following the Lexington victory, First Mission sat out much of the rest of the season in 2023, returning with a victory at Keeneland when next seen on the racetrack on Oct. 14 in an allowance race. That win propelled him to a start in the Grade 2 Clark Stakes at Churchill Downs in his next start on Nov. 24, where First Mission finished second.

First Mission opened up his 4-year-old campaign at the highest level in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 27, 2024, but recorded a disappointing ninth-place finish. First Mission did rebound positively in his second start of 2024, however, with a victory in the Grade 3 $800,000 Essex Handicap going 1 1/8 miles at Oaklawn Park on March 23. First Mission was sent off as the 1.10-1 favorite atop an eight-horse field is the Essex and left little doubt who was best that day with a dominant five-length win.

In his next start, First Mission ran over a sloppy dirt track for the first time in his career, squaring off against a good field in the Grade 2 Alysheba Stakes Presented by TwinSpires May 3 at Churchill Downs. He responded well, running down a loose-on-the-lead longshot from Japan, T O Saint Denis, to win the 1 1/16-mile Alysheba going away. Unfortunately, First Mission could not carry through that winning momentum the rest of the season. He ended his 2024 campaign with a fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Stakes and a seventh-place finish in his last outing of the year in the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 3.

Following a six-month layoff, First Mission returned to the racetrack for his 5-year-old seasonal debut and finished third in the Grade 3 Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 23, 2025. He benefitted from that return outing in his next start, however, and was back in the winner's circle in a big way with a victory in the Grade 2 $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap going 1 1/8 miles on April 19. Sent off as the 7-5 favorite atop an eight-horse field in the Oaklawn Handicap, First Mission stalked the leaders and successfully made his move to challenge in mid-stretch, gaining the lead and extending to a two-length score.

First Mission is trained by Brad cox. He was bred in Kentucky by the sire Street Sense out of the mare Elude by Medaglia d'Oro. He is owned by Godolphin.