Roman Brother - Racing Career - 1964:three-year-old Season

1964:three-year-old Season

Roman Brother began his season in his native Florida. After finishing third on his debut he won the seven furlong Bahamas Stakes over seven furlongs at Hialeah Park, surviving a rough race to win in a time of 1:23.2. By this time he was regarded as a leading contender for the U.S. Triple Crown series. Later in February, Roman Brother moved up to nine furlongs for the Everglades Stakes in which he started favorite. Ridden by Manuel Ycaza, the gelding came from well off the pace to catch Mr. Brick in the closing strides and win by a head. After the race Ycaza described the winner as "an awful willing little horse". In the Flamingo Stakes on March 3 Roman Brother was matched against Northern Dancer, another unusually small thoroughbred, in what was described in the press as a meeting of the "Mighty Mites". Northern Dancer was an impressive winner, with Roman Brother a disappointing fifth in a dead-heat with Dandy K, beaten more than fifteen lengths by the winner. Three weeks later Roman Brother failed to concede ten pounds to Dandy K when finishing second in the Fountain of Youth Stakes. On the final start of his Florida campaign, Roman Brother again finished fifth behind Northern Dancer, this time in the Florida Derby.

In April, Roman Brother moved north and finished third to Mr Brick and Quadrangle in the Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack. He was then sent to Churchill Downs where he prepared for the Derby by running second to the Californian colt Hill Rise in the Derby Trial Stakes. Four days later, Roman Brother was drawn on the outside of the twelve runner field for the Kentucky Derby, for which Hill Rise was made favorite ahead of Northern Dancer. Roman Brother was beaten four lengths in fourth place behind Northern Dancer, Hill Rise and The Scoundrel. After finishing fifth in the Preakness Stakes, Roman Brother broke a run of seven defeats by winning the $125,300 Jersey Derby at Garden State Park. Parke only ran the gelding because The Scoundrel had been injured, but Roman Brother took the lead on the turn into the stretch and drew clear to beat Mr. Brick by three lengths. A week later, he ran second to Quadrangle in the Belmont Stakes, finishing ahead of Northern Dancer and Hill Rise.

At the end of June, Roman Brother was sent to Arlington Park where he ran second to Dandy K when odds on favorite for the $100,000 Chicagoan Handicap. Two weeks later he finished third to Quadrangle in the Dwyer Stakes at Aqueduct. In August, Roman Brother ran fourth behind the filly Tosmah in the Arlington Classic and then contested the American Derby at the same track three weeks later. Starting the 2/1 favorite, he produced a strong finish to win the $134,300 prize by a length from Lt. Stevens. Roman Brother's next target was the inaugural running of the $144,820 New Hampshire Sweepstake at Rockingham Park. Ridden by Fernando Alvarez, Roman Brother came from last place in the backstretch to win by half a length from Knightly Manner in a track record time of 1:55.8. It was the gelding's fifth win in seventeen runs since the start of the year, and took his career earnings to $627,008. Two weeks later he defeated Lt. Stevens by a nose the Discovery Handicap at Aqueduct.

In October, Roman Brother was moved up in distance for another meeting with Quadrangle in the Lawrence Realization Stakes over one and five-eighth miles at Aqueduct. Roman Brother failed by a nose to catch Quadrangle, but appeared an unlucky loser, having been blocked on three occasions and being given a "poorly judged" ride by Alvarez. Roman Brother and Quadrangle met again in the two-mile Jockey Club Gold Cup on October 31, but most interest was attracted by Kelso, who was attempting to win the race for a fifth time and to become the biggest money winner in racing history. Roman Brother was no match for Kelso, who won easily, but proved the best of the three-year-olds, beating Quadrangle by six lengths for second place.