Super Saver's Half-Brother Wins Debut

Brethren, a half-brother to this year’s Kentucky Derby winner, Super Saver, overcame a slight stumble at the start to debut a winner in today’s second race at Belmont Park.

Part of a coupled entry that was favored at 3-5, Brethren quickly recovered from his bobble and led in the early stages before Backdown rushed up along the inside to grab the lead. Brethren pressed the pacesetter in second through a quarter of 22.82, forged to the front following a half in 45.53, and was driven home by jockey David Cohen to defeat Black N Beauty by a half-length. The final time for six furlongs was a brisk 1:08.88.

Like Super Saver, Brethren is trained by Todd Pletcher for owner WinStar Farm.

“He obviously has a lot of pedigree, and he came in with high expectations,” said Pletcher. “He had been very focused and forward in the morning, having done everything we had asked him to do. We felt like he’d be very competitive and that he was a colt who could win first time out if things went smoothly. Aside from a stumble at the gate, it went very well.”

Pletcher said Brethren is likely to make his next start in a stakes, with the specific race to be determined at a later date.

Bred in Kentucky by his owner, Brethren is by Distorted Humor and out of Supercharger, a winning full-sister to Grade 1 Vosburgh victor Girolamo, Grade 2 Top Flight Handicap heroine and Grade 1 Gazelle second-place finisher Daydreaming, and Grade 3 Pilgrim winner and Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap runner-up Accelerator.

In 2009, Super Saver launched his own career in New York, finishing second at Saratoga before going on to graduate by seven lengths at Belmont in his second start.