Westwood took command at the top of the stretch and had plenty left in the tank to hold off the late challenge of Skylar’s Scramjet to win the six-furlong Runhappy Stakes by three-quarters of a length at Belmont Park. The improving colt may now be headed to the G2 True North on Belmont weekend.
It was the first Stakes victory for the four-year-old gelding by Bernardini, who was most recently second in the G3 Commonwealth Stakes at Keeneland in April.
Bred in Kentucky by Darley and racing as a homebred for Godolphin, Westwood is out of Champion Ashado, who captured such prestigious races as the G1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff, G1 Kentucky Oaks and G1 Coaching Club American Oaks during her racing career.
Bernardini sired six Graded Stakes winners in 2017 including G1 Vosburgh winner Takaful, G2 Charles Town Classic hero Imperative, G2 Al Maktoum Challenge-Round 1 victor Le Bernardin, and Watershed, winner of the G3 Ben Ali Stakes at Keeneland.
Bernardini is standing the 2018 breeding season at Jonabell Farm for $85,000, stands and nurses.
