Bernardini gets 12th Grade 1 winner in Spinaway

Rachel’s Valentina lived up to her pedigree when she came from just off the pace to win the G1 Spinaway Stakes by a length at Saratoga Sept. 5. It was just the second career start for the two-year-old daughter of Bernardini, who is out of Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra.

Sitting just off the pace in third throughout the early stages of the race, Rachel’s Valentina took command in the stretch and was able to hold off the late charge of Tap To It to win by a length.

Rachel’s Valentina was bred in KY and races for her breeder, Stonestreet Farm. She is the second foal and second winner out of 2009 Horse of the Year, Rachel Alexandra. A daughter of Medaglia d'Oro, Rachel Alexandra romped by over 20 lengths in the G1 Kentucky Oaks, and later went on to defeat males in both the G1 Preakness and G1 Woodward Stakes during her championship season. Rachel Alexandra is also the dam of Jess’s Dream, winner of his career debut at Saratoga in August.

Rachel’s Valentina becomes the 12th G1 winner for Bernardini, an impressive group that includes this year's G1 Humana Distaff winner Dame Dorothy and G1 Test Stakes winner, Cavorting. In addition, Bernardini is the sire of Boban, a four-time G1 winner in Australia, as well as back-to-back G1 Travers winners Stay Thirsty and Alpha, and multiple G1 winner To Honor And Serve, whose full-sister, Angela Renee, won the G1 Chandelier Stakes.