Buffum becomes Bernardini’s ninth winner

Bernardini’s Buffum showed every bit of the class that his purchase price of $1.2 million at the 2009 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale indicated he possesses by winning his first time out at Belmont Park in a gutsy finish by a nose. Trained by Tom Albertrani, the bay juvenile became Bernardini’s ninth winner from his first crop.

Carrying the maroon and white colors of Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley Stable, Buffum settled early out in the middle of the track under David Cohen. He waited behind a fast early pace and comfortably moved up to take the lead midway around the turn before he had even been asked. Coming down the stretch he was urged on, and in the final furlong, as rival Cool Blue Red Hot drew alongside, he dug down and would not let him pass.

Buffum is out of Stakes winner Storm Beauty, by Storm Cat, who has also produced Stakes winner Stormy West and Stakes-placed Value Stream and Renaissance Lady. She is currently in foal to Street Cry (Ire).

Champion Bernardini is the sire of eight other winners from his first crop, including G1 Frizette Stakes winner A Z Warrior, G1 Gran Criterium Stakes winner Biondetti, G3 winner and G1-placed Theyskens’ Theory as well as G1-placed Stay Thirsty. He is the only stallion ever to sire G1 juvenile winners on both dirt and turf in his first crop.