Art Collector, the impressive winner of the G2 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on July 11th, followed that performance with an equally exciting win in his next start, the Ellis Park Derby, on August 9th. The improving three-year-old colt by Bernardini will now head to Churchill Downs as one of the favorites for the 2020 Kentucky Derby to be held on September 5th. The last month has also highlighted Bernardini’s burgeoning influence as a broodmare sire. Dunbar Road, out of the Bernardini mare Gift List, won the G2 Delaware Handicap (having already won the G1 Alabama in 2019), with a pair of Bernardini mares in Saracosa and Bellera taking the runner-up spots. Quite a feat for any stallion but with Bernardini these types of performances just keep coming.
Bernardini: the height of class
A win by Art Collector in this year’s renewal of the Run for the Roses would give Bernardini his 16th individual winner at the highest level. Digging a little deeper into “Bernie’s” growing sire resume, you’ll also find further success at every Graded level. In fact, since 2015, only Tapit and Curlin have sired more Graded winners on dirt than Bernardini.
Stallions by GS winners on dirt since 2015:
| Stallion | GSW |
|---|---|
| Tapit | 38 |
| Curlin | 26 |
| Bernardini | 22 |
| Uncle Mo | 21 |
| Into Mischief | 21 |
Having sired the likes of such top-level winners as Stay Thirsty and To Honor And Serve, Bernardini is also showing great success through his sons at stud. In fact, he has more G1 winners and Black Type winners as a paternal grandsire than any stallion age 17 or younger in the world.
Paternal grandsires age 17 or younger by G1 winners:
| Grandsire | Age | G1W |
|---|---|---|
| Bernardini | 17 | 5 |
| Scat Daddy | 16 | 4 |
| Pioneerof the Nile | 14 | 2 |
Paternal grandsires age 17 or younger by BT winners:
| Grandsire | Age | BTW |
|---|---|---|
| Bernardini | 17 | 46 |
| Scat Daddy | 16 | 28 |
| Northern Meteor | 15 | 24 |
| Pioneerof the Nile | 14 | 22 |
As previously mentioned, the filly Dunbar Road won the G1 Alabama last year but she was just one of an amazing five G1 winners out of Bernardini mares in 2019 along with Serengeti Empress (Kentucky Oaks), Maxfield (Breeders' Futurity), Wicked Whisper (Frizette Stakes), and Hunter O’Riley (United Nations Handicap).
With the addition of 2020 G1 Coaching Club American Oaks herione Paris Lights, Bernardini is now up to a total of nine G1 winners as a broodmare sire - more than any stallion age 20 or younger in the world.
Broodmare sires age 20 or younger by G1 winners:
| Broodmare sire | Age | G1W |
|---|---|---|
| Bernardini | 17 | 9 |
| Exceed And Excel | 20 | 7 |
| King Kamehameha | 19 | 5 |
| Shamardal | 18 | 5 |
In fact, Bernardini has had more G1 winners, Graded Stakes winners and Black Type winners as a broodmare sire by age 17 than any stallion in history.
Broodmare sires by G1 winners at age 17:
| Broodmare sire | YOB | G1W |
|---|---|---|
| Bernardini | 2003 | 9 |
| Giant's Causeway | 1997 | 9 |
| Northern Dancer | 1961 | 8 |
| Buckpasser | 1963 | 7 |
| Secretariat | 1970 | 7 |
Broodmare sires by Graded Stakes winners at age 17:
| Broodmare sire | YOB | GSW |
|---|---|---|
| Bernardini | 2003 | 21 |
| Unbridled's Song | 1993 | 21 |
| Galileo | 1998 | 20 |
| Giant's Causeway | 1997 | 18 |
| Nureyev | 1977 | 14 |
Broodmare sires by Black Type winners at age 17:
| Broodmare sire | YOB | BTW |
|---|---|---|
| Bernardini | 2003 | 39 |
| Giant's Causeway | 1997 | 35 |
| Galileo | 1998 | 34 |
| Unbridled's Song | 1993 | 32 |
| Shamardal | 2002 | 31 |
And with the yearling sales just around the corner, knowledgeable buyers will no doubt be on the lookout for the next sales crop by Bernardini. In addition, there will also be competition among pinhookers who know that Bernardini is also a sought after sire of two-year-olds. In fact, only the great Storm Cat can top his 25 $500,000-plus two-year-olds at the sales.
If you'd like any additional information on Bernardini, please call a member of our nominations team on (859) 255-8537.
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