Three stakes-placed runners for Brethren on eventful Saturday

Brethren didn’t get his first stakes-winner yesterday, but the son of Distorted Humor did get three stakes-placed runners, one of just three first-year stallions in North America who can make that boast today.

• In the $100,000 Dr. Fager Stakes at Gulfstream Park, first leg of the Florida Sire Stakes, nobody was going to beat Phantom Ro, who raced the six furlongs in 1:10.60. But Dunk finished a game second, less than three lengths behind, and earned a check for $20,000 for Arindel. The colt broke sharply with Emisael Jaramillo, who eased him back to third during a : 22.30 quarter. They went after the leaders three wide on the turn, and although not able to make up ground on the winner, Dunk held off the rest of the field to claim the runner-up spot. Tip Sheet, the other Brethren colt in the race, dumped rider Aby Median when she lost her irons soon after the start.

• Awesome Mass also caught a tough foe in the $100,000 Desert Vixen Stakes, and a poor start didn’t help her chances. After breaking last, Jaramillo guided her up to third along the rail in a :22.22 quarter, then into second on the turn for home. But winner Go Astray was in full flight and Awesome Mass, like Dunk, held on gamely for second and the $20,000 check that goes with it.

• At Louisiana Downs, Feisty Embrace went off at 7-1 in the $50,000 Louisiana Cup Juvenile Fillies and was caught in an unenviable position along the rail for a half-mile. When Colby Hernandez was able to swing her out for racing room in the stretch, Feisty Embrace rallied to get up for third, collecting $5,500 for Matalona Thoroughbreds.

• Brethren moved up to second place behind Treasure Beach on the Florida freshman sire list, and into 10th nationally.