Faisca became the first career stakes winner for freshman sire A. P. Warrior with a powerful 5 1/4-length victory in the $50,000 Phil Shepherd S. Sept. 17 Fairplex Park.

The dark bay/brown filly has had a promising start to her young career, with two wins and a third in five starts. The California-bred races in the name of her breeders, Peter and Barbara Walski.

In the seven furlong Shepherd, Faisca pressed the pace from second, going two-wide to take the lead on the final turn, and coasted home an easy winner.

A. P. Warrior is currently ranked sixth among Florida's freshman sires. He has done particularly well at auction this year with his 2-year-old colts, with an average hammer price of $130,000. The 7-year-old sire stands at Stonewall's Ocala, Florida farm for $6,000, LFS&N.