Bernardini Wins Jim Dandy

The brilliant 3-year-colt, Bernardini, outclassed the field in the $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday, proving to just about everyone that his victory in the Preakness Stakes was no fluke.

“I guess there was a lot of doubt in people’s minds about the Preakness,” winning trainer Tom Albertrani said. “Today, he showed us what a really good horse he is. I wasn’t really surprised.”

Bernardini, with jockey Javier Castellano along for the ride, took the lead around the first turn and was never challenged by Minister’s Bid or Sunriver. By the time the six-horse field reached the turn for home over a track turned sloppy by an early afternoon rainstorm, Bernardini was just warming up.

With his fourth victory in five starts, Bernardini has to be considered the nation’s leading 3-year-old and a contender for Horse of the Year honors. The next stop for the son of A.P. Indy will be the Travers Stakes on Aug.

26. And then it’s likely on to the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park on Oct. 7 and the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs on Nov. 4.

“If he stays at this level, he’s going to be a very tough horse all year,” Albertrani said. “When I saw him come around the quarter pole it just confirmed my hopes that he was going to run this race very well and come back and have something left for the Travers.”

Sent off as the 1-2 favorite, returned $3.10, $2.40 and $2.10 and earned $300,000 for Darley Stable, operated by Dubai’s Sheik Mohammed. The colt boosted his career earnings to $1,010,480.

The winning time for the 1 1-8 miles was 1:50.50.

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