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Nearly everyone knows about Barbaro's frightening breakdown and the subsequent extraordinary efforts to save the nation's best racehorse.
But only frequent followers of the sport will recall that Bernardini won this year's Preakness Stakes by more than five lengths in a powerful performance.
The son of the outstanding sire A.P. Indy would probably have been second best to the great Barbaro on May 20 under normal circumstances, but he will get a chance to prove his Baltimore victory was not a fluke when he heads a field of six in today's $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga.
Bernardini has won three of four starts for trainer Tom Albertrani and will be odds-on to win the Grade II, 11/8-mile feature under Javier Castellano.
If all goes well, Bernardini will next start in the Aug. 26 Travers at the Spa and ultimately the Breeders' Cup Classic in the fall with hopes of winning an Eclipse Award.
A pair of rivals should give Bernardini cause for concern this afternoon.
Minister's Bid is undefeated after two starts and should control the pace under Edgar Prado for trainer John Ward.
Sunriver is trained by Todd Pletcher, who seems to win a stakes race every day (he finished 1-2 in yesterday's Lake George at the Spa). The colt finished third to Jazil in the Belmont Stakes and appears best-suited at today's distance.
On the Saratoga undercard is an outstanding renewal of the Diana Handicap (Grade I) in which trainer Bill Mott saddles three of the seven starters, including likely favorite Lady of Venice.
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