Alpha on top in G1 Travers Stakes

Bernardini sired his second consecutive G1 Travers winner August 25 as favored Alpha shared the victory in what was certainly a memorable day at Saratoga.

It was almost deja vu, as Alpha was entering the Travers having won the G2 Jim Dandy earlier in the Saratoga meet. The Travers-Jim Dandy double was completed last year by Bernardini's Stay Thirsty as well.

In the one and one-quarter mile race dubbed the 'Midsummer Derby', Alpha was forwardly placed just off the pace under a strong hold from jockey Ramon Dominguez. Rounding the far turn Dominguez let loose with Alpha who battled in the stretch for the score.

A three-time Graded Stakes winner, Alpha's earnings now surpass the $1 million mark. Alpha was bred by Darley and is out of the Stakes-winning mare Munnaya, by Nijinsky II. The colt is a half-brother to Stakes winner and Graded-placed Mystic Melody, Graded-placed Lavender Sky, and two other black-type horses. Munnaya is a half-sister to Sheer Reason and Mall Queen, both Stakes winners and Graded-placed. Munnaya has a yearling full-brother to Alpha.

Alpha is one of five G1 winners for Bernardini and ranks alongside To Honor And Serve and Stay Thirsty, among others. The sire is represented by a remarkable nine G1 horses from his first two crops alone. In addition to Alpha, his best in 2012 include Graded winners Via Villaggio, Algorithms, and Le Bernardin. Alpha followed in his sire's footsteps as Bernardini was a winner of the G1 Travers at three as well.