Freshman sire Bernardini recorded his first winner on July 15, when Zayat Stables’ homebred A Z Warrior put up an impressive debut performance to land the five-and-a-half furlong maiden special weight at Hollywood Park.
Breaking smartly from the gate, the Bob Baffert-trained filly was soon in front and flew down the stretch to win by a length and three quarters from Indian Gracey, with the pair well clear of the rest of the field.
A Z Warrior is out of the Stakes-placed Carson City mare Carson Jen, now dam of five winners from five foals to race including G1 King’s Bishop third and G3 winner E Z Warrior and fellow Stakes winner J Z Warrior.
Bernardini, the best three-year-old in the world in 2006 and the first horse since Damascus to win the Preakness, Travers and Jockey Club Gold Cup in the same year, was rewarded with an outstanding first book of mares that included no fewer than 64 G1 winners or producers. He was leading freshman at last year’s yearling sales, averaging an outstanding $364,000.
