The beautifully bred Éclair put in a determined rally in the final furlong to win the Golden Gate Debutante by a neck at Golden Gate Fields Nov. 29.
It was the first Stakes victory for the two-year-old filly by Bernardini, who improved her record to two wins and two third-place finishes in six career starts.
Eclair broke smoothly from the gate and stalked the early leaders until the top of the stretch. She then was angled outside by jockey Juan Hernandez and set down for the stretch drive, where she eventually collared longtime leader No Cover Charge near the wire to post a neck victory.
Éclair was bred in Kentucky by Don Alberto Corporation and sold for a sale-topping $420,000 at the Santa Anita Horses of Racing Age sale earlier this year. Éclair is out of Elbe, a winning daughter of Dansili who has also produced Limari, a Graded Stakes-placed daughter of Medaglia d’Oro. Elbe is a half-sister to Stakes winner Posteritas, dam of G1 Prix Jean Prat winner, Mutual Trust, and hails from the direct family of Group 1 winner All At Sea.
Bernardini has sired over 70 Stakes winners. In addition to Éclair, Bernardini is represented by 2019 Stakes winners Capezzano (G1 Al Maktoum Challenge R3), Bellera (G3 Comely Stakes), Cherry Lodge (Ladies’ Turf Sprint Stakes), Desert Isle (Zadracarta Stakes), Micheline (Sorority Stakes) and Crescentcitypretty (Azalea Stakes).
Bernardini will stand 2020 breeding season at Jonabell Farm in Kentucky for a fee of $40,000, stands and nurses.
