Journalists Wandering Eyes Posted March 25, 2019 Journalists Share Posted March 25, 2019 Starlight Racing’s CUTTING HUMOR (c, 3, First Samurai–Pun, by Pulpit) bounced back from a seventh-place finish as the favorite in the GIII Southwest S. to annex this lucrative GI Kentucky Derby prep in track record time. Well supported at the windows again–especially late–the $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga was off at 2-1 and was parked out in the clear early by Hall of Famer John Velazquez as favored Bob Baffert trainee Mucho Gusto (Much Macho Man) showed the way with local hope Hustle Up (Abstraction) applying pressure with El Camino Real Derby hero Anothertwistafate (Scat Daddy) in the pocket spot. Cutting Humor looked to have Mucho Gusto’s number as he ranged up ominously heading for home, and while the chalk briefly fought back, Cutting Humor had too much in the tank. Anothertwistafate finally got going in midstretch, and cut the margin of victory to just a neck at the line. Cutting Humor stopped the clock in 1:46.94, lowering the previous record time of 1:47 1/5. Cutting Humor was second in his sprint debut in the Belmont slop Sept. 9, and settled for third in a salty Keeneland route Oct. 7. behind subsequent GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. runner-up Plus Que Parfait (Point of Entry) and eventual GII Fasig-Tipton Holy Bull S. upsetter Harvey Wallbanger (Congrats). He broke through at a mile at Gulfstream Park West Nov. 17, and resurfaced to be second behind GII Xpressbet Fountain of Youth S. runner-up Bourbon War (Tapit) in a Gulfstream optional claimer Jan. 18. He missed the break before making a middle move in the GIII Southwest, and was looking to become the third also-ran from that heat to come back to score. Third finisher Long Range Toddy (Take Charge Indy) took a division of the GII Rebel S. last weekend, while pacesetter Gray Attempt (Graydar) cut back to annex Oaklawn’s Gazebo S. Saturday. Runner-up Sueno (Atreides) was third in Saturday’s GII Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby. Sales history: $135,000 yrl KEEJAN ’17; $400,000 yrl ’17 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: 6-2-2-1. O-Starlight Racing. B-Dell Hancock & Bernie Sams (Ky). T-Todd A Pletcher. View the full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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