Imposing Bernardini crushes Bluegrass Cat

Sunday, August 27, 2006 The 3-year-old Preakness champion won by 71/2 lengths. SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) — Imposing 3-year-old colt Bernardini turned the $1 million Travers Stakes into his own personal showcase Saturday, blowing away the talented Bluegrass Cat in the stretch for another overpowering victory. This time, the winning margin was 71/2 lengths, a sensational encore after wins in the Jim Dandy by nine lengths and in the Preakness by 51/4 lengths. Under cloudy skies at a packed Saratoga Race Course, Bernardini put on a dazzling display, seizing the lead just after the start and controlling the race all the way around the track as the crowd of 40,785 cheered him on. "I was just praying that he would show up as the phenomenal horse I know him to be," trainer Tom Albertrani said. "And he did. He's just getting sharper every race. It's pretty scary." When Haskell winner Bluegrass Cat moved within a half-length of Bernardini around the turn, jockey Javier Castellano asked his colt to make his move. And the son of A.P. Indy responded by pulling away as Castellano raised his right index finger to the sky and gave Bernardini a pat on the side even before reaching the finish line. The margin of victory was the largest in the Travers since General Assembly won by 15 lengths in 1979. Top horse contender Bernardini, in winning his fifth straight race after a career-opening defeat in February, not only confirmed his status as the leading 3-year-old, but is a serious contender for Horse of the Year honors. His five wins have been by a combined 331/4 lengths. Sent off as the odds-on favorite, Bernardini returned $2.70, $2.10 and $2.10. Bluegrass Cat, trained by Todd Pletcher, was second and paid $2.50 and $2.60. Dr. Pleasure was third and returned $4.70 to show. Hesanoldsalt was fourth, followed by High Cotton and Minister's Bid. Kip Deville was scratched. Winning time for the 11/4-mile race was 2:01.60. Bernardini earned $600,000 for the win, and boosted his bankroll to $1,610,480 for Sheik Mohammed's Darley Stable. The virtuoso effort had John Ferguson — Darley's bloodstock advisor — calling Bernardini a superstar. "I firmly believe he is," Ferguson said. "What makes him special is his father is A.P. Indy [1992 Horse of the Year]. So he's a superstar of a race horse and superstar of a physical specimen, too." Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.