Well, the time frame was actually just about four days, but nonetheless, two great impact moments for our Classic winner and influential sire Bernardini.
On Saturday, March 9th, his son Capezzano became his sire's 15th lifetime G1 winner with an impressive nine and one-half-length victory in the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge R3. Capezzano is having his best year thus far and stamped his ticket to the G1 Dubai World Cup to be run on March 30th.
Over the past five years, progeny of Bernardini have done what their sire did in his fantastic career: win Graded races on the dirt. In fact, only Tapit has sired more of these high-level runners since 2015.
Top stallions by Graded Stakes winners on dirt since 2015:
| Stallion |
Graded winners on dirt since 2015 |
|---|
| TAPIT |
31 |
| BERNARDINI |
20 |
| CANDY RIDE |
18 |
| CURLIN |
17 |
| UNCLE MO |
15 |
| MEDAGLIA D'ORO |
13 |
| QUALITY ROAD |
13 |
| MALIBU MOON |
13 |
| GHOSTZAPPER |
13 |
| INTO MISCHIEF |
13 |
Even before 2015, his runners excelled in many of the nation's marquee races. You will remember such Stakes winners as Stay Thirsty (G1 Travers, G1 Cigar Mile), Alpha (G1 Travers, G1 Woodward), To Honor And Serve (G1 Woodward, G1 Cigar Mile), and Angela Renee (G1 Chandelier) to name a few.
Now, let's switch surface - so to speak - and fast forward to March 12th to the two-year-old sale at the Ocala Breeders' Sale Company. It was in the ring where progeny of Bernardini continued to attract the attention of discerning buyers.
Hip 240, a handsome two-year-old colt out of the Stakes-producing dual Champion Inish Glora, was knocked down to Phoenix Thoroughbreds at $825,000. He becomes the 23rd $500,000+ sales two-year-old for his sire, with only the great Storm Cat having sired more such juveniles since the 1980s.
Top stallions by $500,000+ sales two-year-olds since 1980:
| Stallion |
$500K+ sales 2yos since 1980 |
|---|
| STORM CAT |
28 |
| BERNARDINI |
23 |
| MALIBU MOON |
21 |
| SCAT DADDY |
21 |
| TAPIT |
20 |
| DISTORTED HUMOR |
19 |
| UNBRIDLED'S SONG |
17 |
| MR. GREELEY |
16 |
| SEATTLE SLEW |
16 |
| MEDAGLIA D'ORO |
14 |
| MORE THAN READY |
14 |
In addition - and at the young age of 16 - his influence is also being passed along through his sire sons and broodmare daughters. A few more facts:
- Bernardini is the youngest sire in the world with more than 10 Black Type winners as a grandsire – he has 35!
- Bernardini is the youngest sire in the world with TWO sons who have sired a G1 winner.
- Only he and Tapit had two sire sons with US G1 winners in 2018.
- Bernardini is the youngest sire in the world with 25 Black Type winners as a broodmare sire, including 2018 G1 Travers winner Catholic Boy and G1 Hollywood Derby winner Mo Town.
- Bernardini is the youngest sire EVER to reach 25 Black Type winners as a broodmare sire.
If you have yet to complete your breeding plans for 2019, give one of our nominations team a call on (859) 255-8537 to find out how Bernardini might be suitable for your mare.
