Roman Brother (USA)
May 27, 1961 – March 8, 1991
Third Brother (USA) x Roman Zephyr (USA), by Roman (USA)
Family 16-a
May 27, 1961 – March 8, 1991
Third Brother (USA) x Roman Zephyr (USA), by Roman (USA)
Family 16-a
A happy blend of speed and stamina lines, Roman Brother was a good juvenile who improved steadily with maturity. At 3, he proved himself one of the two best stayers of his crop in the United States (the other was Belmont Stakes winner Quadrangle) and was just a shade behind Northern Dancer in the sophomore division. At 4, the gelding struggled in the spring and summer but in the fall was the best American runner of any age, succeeding five-time American Horse of the Year Kelso (though he had to share honors with the brilliant 2-year-old filly Moccasin). He was able to race only twice at 5 before injury forced him into retirement.
Race record
42 starts, 16 wins, 10 seconds, 5 thirds, US$943,473
1963:
1964:
1965:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 124 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1963, 2 pounds below highweighted Raise a Native (officially the co-champion of the division) and 1 pound below Hurry to Market (the other official co-champion) and tied for third with Chieftain and Golden Ruler.
Rated at 127 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1964, 1 pound below champion Northern Dancer and tied with Quadrangle for second.
Co-highweighted at 132 pounds with Gun Bow and Kelso on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American older males of 1965.
Ranked third among American juveniles of 1963 and third among American 3-year-old males of 1964 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A plain, short-coupled bay gelding standing 15.2 hands at most and often reported as smaller, Roman Brother was built along staying lines with an excellent shoulder and a deep girth but was notable for the muscular development of his gaskins. He could be faulted for a slightly turned-out knee and pasterns that were a little on the long side. He was intelligent and quick to learn and had a pleasant, professional disposition according to Charles Hatton of the Daily Racing Form. (His exercise rider, Jerry Demarzio, had a different opinion, calling him “all heart” but also a “mean little devil” and warning that Roman Brother would bite at any opportunity.) He shipped well and was a good doer but was prone to hoof cracks. He was gelded young on the advice of a veterinarian, presumably due to his small size. He suffered an injury to his left front ankle during the running of the 1966 Seminole Handicap, his second start of the year, and never recovered racing soundness after that.
Connections
Foaled in Florida, Roman Brother was bred by Ocala Stud Farm. He was owned by Louis E. Wolfson's Harbor View Farm, which purchased Roman Brother as an unraced 2-year-old for $23.500 (the second-highest price of the sale) from the 1963 Florida Breeders’ Sale of 2-year-olds in training at Hialeah. He was trained by Burley Parke. Following his racing career, he was pensioned at Harbor View Farm. After Harbor View was sold, he moved to Happy Valley Farm (owned by Louis Wolfson’s sons, Steve and Gary) and died there of colic in March 1991.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 1956 Roamer Handicap winner Third Brother (a full brother to 1950 American Horse of the Year Hill Prince), Roman Brother is inbred 5x5 to 1911 Two Thousand Guineas and Derby Stakes winner Sunstar and to the speed sire Ultimus. He is a half brother to Romantic Miss (by Beauchef), dam of 1971 Matron Handicap winner Toterback (by Carry Back); Toterback, in turn, produced 1985 Premio Presidente della Repubblica (ITY-G1) winner Bob Back (by Roberto).
Roman Brother was produced from Roman Zephyr, winner of the 1949 Keeneland Sales Filly Stakes and a full sister to 1953 Shevlin Stakes winner Hueso. The siblings were the only foals produced by the winning Man o’ War mare Blois, whose half sister Royal Robes (by Haste) is the dam of 1948 Black Helen Handicap winner Shotsilk (by Chance Shot)
Blois, in turn, is out of the Sardanapale mare Mademoiselle de Valo, whose Man o’ War half sister Hostility took her only career victory in the 1939 Acorn Stakes and produced 1951 Black Helen Handicap winner Antagonism (by Eight Thirty), dam in turn of 1962 Selima Stakes winner Fool’s Play (by Tom Fool). Produced from Marguerite de Valois (by Teddy x Plucky Liege and so a full sister to champion sires Sir Gallahad III and Bull Dog and a half sister to 1938 Derby Stakes winner Bois Roussel), Mademoiselle de Valo is also a half sister to Diablesse (by Diavolo), dam of multiple stakes winner Misleader (by Snark).
Fun facts
Last updated: August 12, 2023
Race record
42 starts, 16 wins, 10 seconds, 5 thirds, US$943,473
1963:
- Won Champagne Stakes (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Garden State Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Garden State)
1964:
- Won Discovery Handicap (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- Won New Hampshire Sweepstakes (USA, 9.5FD, Rockingham; new track record 1:55-4/5)
- Won American Derby (USA, 10FD, Arlington Park)
- Won Jersey Derby (USA,9FD, Garden State)
- Won Everglades Stakes (USA, 9FD, Hialeah)
- Won Bahamas Stakes (USA, 7FD, Hialeah)
- 2nd Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA, 16FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Lawrence Realization (USA, 13FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Chicagoan Stakes (USA, 9FD, Arlington Park)
- 2nd Belmont Stakes (USA, 12FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Derby Trial (USA, 8FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Fountain of Youth Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Gulfstream Park)
- 3rd Dwyer Handicap (USA, 10FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Wood Memorial (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
1965:
- Won Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA, 16FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Manhattan Handicap (USA, 13FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Woodward Stakes (USA, 10FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Brooklyn Handicap (USA, 10FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Michigan Mile and One-Eighth Handicap (USA, 9FD, Detroit)
- 3rd Washington, D. C., International (USA, 12FT, Laurel)
- 3rd Aqueduct Stakes (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
Honors
- American co-Horse of the Year (1965; shared with Moccasin)
- American champion handicap male (1965)
Assessments
Rated at 124 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1963, 2 pounds below highweighted Raise a Native (officially the co-champion of the division) and 1 pound below Hurry to Market (the other official co-champion) and tied for third with Chieftain and Golden Ruler.
Rated at 127 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1964, 1 pound below champion Northern Dancer and tied with Quadrangle for second.
Co-highweighted at 132 pounds with Gun Bow and Kelso on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American older males of 1965.
Ranked third among American juveniles of 1963 and third among American 3-year-old males of 1964 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A plain, short-coupled bay gelding standing 15.2 hands at most and often reported as smaller, Roman Brother was built along staying lines with an excellent shoulder and a deep girth but was notable for the muscular development of his gaskins. He could be faulted for a slightly turned-out knee and pasterns that were a little on the long side. He was intelligent and quick to learn and had a pleasant, professional disposition according to Charles Hatton of the Daily Racing Form. (His exercise rider, Jerry Demarzio, had a different opinion, calling him “all heart” but also a “mean little devil” and warning that Roman Brother would bite at any opportunity.) He shipped well and was a good doer but was prone to hoof cracks. He was gelded young on the advice of a veterinarian, presumably due to his small size. He suffered an injury to his left front ankle during the running of the 1966 Seminole Handicap, his second start of the year, and never recovered racing soundness after that.
Connections
Foaled in Florida, Roman Brother was bred by Ocala Stud Farm. He was owned by Louis E. Wolfson's Harbor View Farm, which purchased Roman Brother as an unraced 2-year-old for $23.500 (the second-highest price of the sale) from the 1963 Florida Breeders’ Sale of 2-year-olds in training at Hialeah. He was trained by Burley Parke. Following his racing career, he was pensioned at Harbor View Farm. After Harbor View was sold, he moved to Happy Valley Farm (owned by Louis Wolfson’s sons, Steve and Gary) and died there of colic in March 1991.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 1956 Roamer Handicap winner Third Brother (a full brother to 1950 American Horse of the Year Hill Prince), Roman Brother is inbred 5x5 to 1911 Two Thousand Guineas and Derby Stakes winner Sunstar and to the speed sire Ultimus. He is a half brother to Romantic Miss (by Beauchef), dam of 1971 Matron Handicap winner Toterback (by Carry Back); Toterback, in turn, produced 1985 Premio Presidente della Repubblica (ITY-G1) winner Bob Back (by Roberto).
Roman Brother was produced from Roman Zephyr, winner of the 1949 Keeneland Sales Filly Stakes and a full sister to 1953 Shevlin Stakes winner Hueso. The siblings were the only foals produced by the winning Man o’ War mare Blois, whose half sister Royal Robes (by Haste) is the dam of 1948 Black Helen Handicap winner Shotsilk (by Chance Shot)
Blois, in turn, is out of the Sardanapale mare Mademoiselle de Valo, whose Man o’ War half sister Hostility took her only career victory in the 1939 Acorn Stakes and produced 1951 Black Helen Handicap winner Antagonism (by Eight Thirty), dam in turn of 1962 Selima Stakes winner Fool’s Play (by Tom Fool). Produced from Marguerite de Valois (by Teddy x Plucky Liege and so a full sister to champion sires Sir Gallahad III and Bull Dog and a half sister to 1938 Derby Stakes winner Bois Roussel), Mademoiselle de Valo is also a half sister to Diablesse (by Diavolo), dam of multiple stakes winner Misleader (by Snark).
Fun facts
- Roman Brother was known as the “Mighty Mite” to racing fans and journalists.
- At the time of his retirement, Roman Brother was the highest money-winning Thoroughbred ever sold at public auction.
Last updated: August 12, 2023