Marking his return to racing before an opening day crowd of 25,444, Darley's G2 Louisiana Derby winner Pyro bullied himself through traffic in a serpentine pattern to take a gallant second in the James Marvin S. The ultimate goal for Edward Evans' Florida Derby winner Quality Road (Elusive Quality) is America's mid-summer derby - the G1 Shadwell Travers Stakes. Jess Jackson's Rachel Alexandra - sovereign in the three-year-old filly division - took up residence at the track in June. She has the G1 Alabama in sights and may seize another opportunity to pursue her 'battle of the sexes' crusade in the 140th running of the Travers on August 29. The sweetheart of the east coast racing scene even has her own media room on-line at Rachel's Sandbox ()
The Travers has served as an important catalyst in the careers of several of Darley's American-bred stallions. Holy Bull proved both stamina and courage in the 1994 renewal of the mile-and-a quarter test; Rachel Alexandra's own sire Medaglia d'Oro prevailed in 2002; and Street Sense became the tenth Kentucky Derby winner to also capture the Travers while boosting his bankroll to more than $4 million for his 83-year-old owner James Tafel.
Bernardini (pictured) gave the 2006 crowd a thrilling seven-and-a-half-length victory over G1 Haskell winner Bluegrass Cat. His margin of victory was the largest since General Assembly sailed to a fifteen length lead in 1979. The Blood-Horse magazine caught up with trainer Tom Albertrani immediately following Bernardini's triumph. "To have a horse of this caliber, I think it's great for racing," he said. "Great to have people cheering for a horse. That's what it's all about. Cigar got the attention of a nation and, hopefully, this horse will, too."
The horse that Sheikh Mohammed's bloodstock advisor John Ferguson hailed as a 'superstar' did indeed attract attention; most especially from mare owners whose stock was of the caliber for which a national champion deserves.
As yearlings, Bernardini's first offspring passed under the hammer in July at Fasig- Tipton's select sale. Dick O'Gorman, representing Ferguson on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed bid to $350,000 to secure a May-foaled bay colt - a three-quarter brother to graded winners Indy Five Hundred and Delta Princess.
With the focus now shifting to Saratoga, Fasig-Tipton's Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer Dan Pride said, "Bernardini is our number one sire at Saratoga in terms of yearlings offered and they look every bit the part."
Six colts and eight fillies are catalogued for the Saratoga yearling sale in two evening sessions commencing August 10. First up for Bernardini is a colt out of the prolific Silver Deputy mare Silvery Swan. Selling as Hip 22, this colt has four top-caliber runners under the first dam: Roman Ruler and El Corredor are each Grade One winners; Maimonides placed in the G1 Hopeful; and a half-sister, Silver Tornado won at Grade Three level.
Hip 34 is a Pennsylvania-bred colt out of Storm Beauty, the stakes winning Storm Cat half to Gold Beauty. Ranked among the best of Mr. Prospector's 180 stakes winners, Gold Beauty in 1982, stepped into the shadow of 1969 champion Ta Wee as only the second female national sprint champion to earn the title as a three-year old. She continued her legacy as a broodmare having turned out two-time English champion and Horse of the Year Dayjur, Grade Two winner The Prime Minister, as well as a Filly Triple Crown winner in Maplejinsky who turned to be the granddam of champion Sky Beauty, and great-granddam of grade one winners Pleasant Home and Tale of Ekati.
The potential of one Bernardini filly heading to the ring as Hip 39 is unyielding. She is the second foal from the winning Storm Cat half-sister to successive G1 Belmont Stakes winners Jazil and Rags to Riches. The A.P. Indy-sired Eclipse Award winning filly of 2007, Rags to Riches took down Curlin in her mighty endeavor. If not for a bruised foot, G2 Peter Pan winner Casino Drive would have become the third Belmont starter for Broodmare of the Year Better Than Honour.
A decent sort herself, the G2 Demoiselle winner and G1Acorn runner-up Better Than Honour is a daughter of G1 Kentucky Oaks and G1 Santa Susana S. winner Blush with Pride. Not shown on the printed page, although of great significance, is the third dam Best in Show - Broodmare of the Year in 1982. Her progeny includes Irish champion juvenile colt Malinowski. Her daughters nevertheless, have produced European champions Xaar, Try My Best and El Gran Senor, to name but a few. In addition, Australian Group One winners Hurricane Sky, Umatilla and champion and four-time Grade One winner Redoute's Choice all trace to this blue hen.
Following Bernardini's brilliant $3 million season, his Quiet American dam, Cara Rafaela, was also distinguished as a Broodmare of the Year. She is the daughter of Oil Fable, sired by Horse of the Year Spectacular Bid.
High-weight filly in Ireland and England, Warrior Queen, another daughter of Quiet American, proved to work well in blood when mated with A.P. Indy; having produced G2 San Felipe S. and La Jolla H. winner A.P. Warrior. Hip 86 is a half-sister to Warrior Queen and graded-placed Rapid Ransom. They are from the immediate family of Canadian champion Northernette, and her Canadian-bred son Storm Bird, who took English and Irish titles at two; as well as U.S. Grade One winner Storm Trooper.
The mares that these Bernardini sales yearlings were born to are just phenomenal. The impending promise of talent from two of the January foaled fillies, each half-sisters to Grade One winners, is a rational conclusion at the very least. One is the half to turf running millionairess Vacare - a kin to Champion Serena's Song who will sport hip number 68 on the first night. The other, Hip 74, is the half to the intensely loyal fighter Octave. Never off the board in 13 of the country's filly classics at two and three, Octave took the G1 CCA Oaks and G1 Mother Goose as her own. With three additional stakes winning siblings and Top Flight H. winner Ms. Eloise in the family, she is one not to be missed.
Judging by these all of these fine prospects, we have no doubt that Bernardini will enlighten players and followers of the 'sport of kings' throughout the next decade.
