Sharp Humor's first mainland winner delivers the punch line

Grade 2 victor SHARP HUMOR (Distorted Humor) registered his first winner on

the U.S. mainland Thursday when Unleash the Humor landed the 3RD race at Penn

National. Sent off at 9-2 in his debut, the Mark Shuman juvenile flashed speed

beneath William Otero, was headed, but then fought back to score by a

half-length. Unleash the Humor negotiated 4 1/2 furlongs on the fast track in

:52 4/5.

Sharp Humor's first overall winner, Benedetti, romped by 6 3/4 lengths at

Camarero in Puerto Rico on June 9.

Sharp Humor captured his first start as a juvenile in wire-to-wire fashion at

Belmont Park in July 2005. Subsequently trained by Dale Romans, the bay went on

to score game victories in the Bertram F. Bongard S. and Sleepy Hollow S. that

fall, earning honors as the New York-bred champion two-year-old colt.

Sharp Humor's trademark qualities of speed and determination were both very

much on display at Gulfstream Park in early 2006. After arguing the pace through

fast fractions in the Swale S. (G2), he dug in and held on by a hard-fought

neck.

Next time out, Sharp Humor stretched out to two turns for the first time in

the Florida Derby (G1), where he dictated on the front end and yielded

grudgingly late to Barbaro. He was unable to get close to Barbaro when finishing

19th in the Kentucky Derby (G1), but exited the race with a fracture in his left

knee.

Sharp Humor raced only twice more, posting a close second in the Hudson H. in

his comeback, but failing to perform up to his best when trailing in the Cigar

Mile H. (G1). He was retired with $490,410 in earnings from his 10-4-2-1 line.

Produced by the unraced Bellona (Hansel), Sharp Humor hails from the family

of champion Swale (Seattle Slew), hero of the 1984 Kentucky Derby and Belmont S.

(G1); Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) winner Shadeed (Nijinsky II); and champion

and noted sire Forty Niner (Mr. Prospector).

The seven-year-old Sharp Humor stands at WinStar Farm near Versailles,

Kentucky, for $7,500, stands and nurses.