Gala Award celebrates in G3 Palm Beach Stakes

After breaking his maiden last time out at Gulfstream, well-bred Bernardini colt Gala Award took on a challenge March 1 in the G3 Palm Beach Stakes. It proved to be the right move, as the three-year-old colt stamped his second win in a row.

In the one-and-one-eighth-mile turf race Gala Award was sent along in third on the outside. Into the stretch the colt took the lead and pulled away in the final stages for the score. The colt's record improves to two wins and a second in just three starts.

Gala Award is the third Graded Stakes winner produced by the Carson City mare Wilshewed, who is also the dam of G1 winner Stormello and G2 winner My Best Brother. A $1.55 million Keeneland September yearling purchase, Gala Award was bred by William L. Currin.

Gala Award is the 18th Graded Stakes winner around the world for Bernardini. His seven G1 winners and 13 G1 horses include two G1 Travers winners in Alpha and Stay Thirsty, as well as multiple G1 winner To Honor And Serve. Gala Award is the second Stakes winner on the day for Bernardini, whose son Cooldini took the Roy Higgins Handicap at Flemington in Australia. Recently his daughter Spellbound won the G2 La Canada Stakes at Santa Anita.

Bernardini stands for $100,000 live foal, stands and nurses.