Agent to the Stars

[Wandering Eyes]

LOUISVILLE, KY – If there was ever a pedigree that was going to jump off the page at Frankie Brothers, it was Hip 33 at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale.

Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, Agent II, the dark bay colt–a son of First Samurai out of the unraced Pulpit mare Pun-brought a final bid of $400,000 from the trainer-turned-bloodstock agent at the two-day auction.

You’ve probably correctly guessed by now that this is a story about Cutting Humor (First Samurai), who will carry the colors of Jack and Laurie Wolf’s Starlight Racing in Saturday’s GI Kentucky Derby. The GIII Sunland Park Derby hero is trained by Todd Pletcher.

“Of course I would be a little bit drawn to him by First Samurai out of a Pulpit mare as I was fortunate enough to train both of them,” Brothers said of Cutting Humor’s sire and broodmare sire. “We thought he was an exceptional yearling, gave a lot of money for him and he’s really done well. He won a nice prep and booked his ticket for the Derby and those guys are all pretty excited.”

Brothers is certainly no stranger to experiencing that excitement for himself leading up to the First Saturday in May.

The great Hansel solidified his championship season for Brothers with wins in the final two legs of the Triple Crown after finishing off the board as the 5-2 favorite in the 1989 Kentucky Derby. The aforementioned Pulpit, winner of the 1997 GII Toyota Blue Grass S. and GII Fountain of Youth S., was fourth in the 1997 Run for the Roses for Brothers.

“There’s just nothing like Derby week if you’ve got a live one in there,” Brothers said. “Through the years, I was unfortunate that I didn’t win it, but certainly fortunate enough to train some nice horses that had a chance. But since I’ve retired, I’ve got no qualms about that. These guys had the faith in me to try to find some nice horses and it’s very difficult to do. Just like it’s very hard when you’re training to come up with a nice horse. It’s great that we’ve got a nice colt and I hope he runs well.”

A former student of the legendary Jack Van Berg, the native of New Orleans tightened the girth on no fewer than 2,359 winners throughout his illustrious training career.

Cutting Humor’s sire First Samurai (Giant’s Causeway) captured the GI Hopeful S. and GI Champagne S. at two and added a win via disqualification in the following term’s GII Fountain of Youth S. Other standouts trained by Brothers include: GISWs Arch (Kris S.), Madcap Escapade (Hennessy) and Secret Hello (Private Account).

When Brothers announced that he was retiring from training to enter the bloodstock world about 10 years ago, he was approached by Jack Wolf. The two shared a mutual friend, owner Bruce Lunsford, and quickly came to terms.

Brothers is married to former jockey Donna Barton Brothers, who now works as a television racing analyst. She joined Starlight as Chief Operating Officer in 2012.

“It was just time for me to move on [from training],” said Brothers, who also spends about six weeks over the summer on Keeneland’s yearling inspection team. “Some opportunities came my way with Starlight and we’ve had some luck so far. I enjoy the little time I do with Keeneland inspecting the yearlings, so that keeps me in the game, too. The game has been good to me.”

Since taking on the role as Starlight’s bloodstock agent, Brothers has selected: champion 2-year-old colt and GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile hero Shanghai Bobby (Harlan’s Holiday) ($105,000 yrl ’11 KEESEP); recent Kentucky Derby starters: GII Fountain of Youth S. winner via disqualification Itsaknockout (Lemon Drop Kid) ($350,000 yrl ’13 FTSAUG) and GII Risen Star S. winner Intense Holiday (Harlan’s Holiday) ($380,000 yrl ’12 KEESEP); the trio of unbeatens: GIII Holy Bull S. winner Algorithms (Bernardini) ($170,000 yrl ’10 KEESEP), GII Adirondack S. heroine Position Limit (Bellamy Road) ($55,000 yrl ’09 FTKJUL) and GII Hutcheson S. winner Thunder Moccasin (A. P. Warrior) ($95,000 yrl ’10 FTKJUL); and MGSW & MGISP Eskenformoney (Eskendereya) ($225,000 yrl ’13 KEESEP).

Cutting Humor, a maiden winner at third asking at Gulfstream West last November, was seventh as the 2-1 favorite with a wide trip in the GIII Southwest S. at Oaklawn in February. He made amends in his next start, punching his ticket to Louisville with a game neck decision in the Sunland Derby. He will be riden for the first time by Hall of Famer Mike Smith in the Derby.

Bred in Kentucky by Dell Hancock and Bernie Sams, the $135,000 KEEJAN short yearling turned $400,000 FTSAUG yearling was pinhooked by Taylor Made’s Bloodstock Investments IV. Cutting Humor’s dam is a half-brother to MGISW sprinter Zensational (Unbridled’s Song) and hails from the same extended female family of MGISW Bolt d’Oro (Medaglia d’Oro) and MGSW Departing (War Front).

Starlight Racing, a minority partner in 2018 Triple Crown hero Justify (Scat Daddy) as well as the Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Audible (Into Mischief), will also be represented as a co-owner in this year’s Derby with Improbable (City Zip). All three were bought into privately as racing prospects.

“It seems like Derby day is the longest day in the world when you’re waiting to run,” Brothers said. “You just hope that everything stays the same, the horse stays well and hope that you’re on the upswing when you get there. Derby week is special. We live here in Louisville and it’s a fun couple of mornings.”

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