Free Country closed from off the pace under Kent Desormeaux to win the tenth race at Churchill Downs on Saturday and become the first career winner for freshman sire Big Country.

Free Country, who is out of the Wild Again mare Smyrna, completed the six-furlong maiden special weight race in 1:12.38 on a sealed sloppy main track for trainer Ken McPeek and owner Silver Wing Stable.

An eight-year-old by A.P. Indy out of 1994 champion two-year-old filly Flanders, by Seeking the Gold, Big Country is a half brother to 2000 champion three-year-old filly Surfside. Big Country, who stood his first three seasons for $7,500 at Bona Terra Stud in Georgetown, Kentucky, has 19 two-year-olds in his first crop.

Big Country won two of 13 career starts and earned $74,368 in three seasons for owner-breeder Overbrook Farm and trainer D. Wayne Lukas.