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Preakness winner Bernardini returns in Jim Dandy
Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Bernardini returns to the races in the $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday..
With Barbaro retired and Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Jazil on the farm recovering from a bruised right hind cannon bone, Bernardini is the only classic winner being pointed for the $1-million Travers Stakes (G1) on August 26, for which the 1 /8-mile Jim Dandy is the local prep.
The Darley Stable homebred was rested after his 5¼-length Preakness win on May 20 to keep him fresh for the second half of the year. Trainer Tom Albertrani said a year-end championship remains the goal for Bernardini, who is by A.P. Indy and out of the Grade 1-winning Quiet American mare Cara Rafaela.
"If this horse were to win the Jim Dandy and the Travers and he goes on to beat older horses, we're hoping there'll be some consideration for him to get top three-year-old or maybe even horse of the year," said Albertrani, who compared Bernardini to some of the greatest horses he has been around.
"This horse has shown me that he is very talented – as much as I've seen – and I've been around Cigar, Dubai Millennium, and Street Cry (Ire). I think he stacks up there with those types of horses."
After finishing fourth in his career debut at Gulfstream Park on January 7, Bernardini has won three in a row by an average margin of more than 5½ lengths. Bernardini worked five furlongs in :58.90 at Belmont Park on July 17, fastest of 16 workouts at the distance. He worked another five furlongs in 1:00.82 on Monday.
"We kinda let him down after the Preakness, but this horse has been so sharp lately," Albertrani said. "His last two works have been unbelievable. He's on ready. I think even after the Jim Dandy he'll improve and be a little sharper after that race."
Bernardini's competition on Saturday is expected to include Peter Pan Stakes (G2) winner Sunriver, who finished third in the Belmont Stakes, and a pair of promising colts owned by John Oxley and trained by John Ward – Dr. Pleasure and Minister's Bid.
Ward said Dr. Pleasure, a winner of one race from five starts, is "a great athlete still looking for his game." Minister's Bid is undefeated in two career starts, and Ward believes the Deputy Minister colt is ready for his stakes debut.
"Ministers Bid has a high cruising speed," Ward said. "He goes in as a very professional horse with [Edgar] Prado on him with tactical speed and the ability to close."
Ward and Oxley's other top three-year-old – Dwyer Stakes (G2) winner Strong Contender – is being pointed for the $1-million Haskell Invitational Handicap (G1) at Monmouth Park on August 6. Bluegrass Cat, runner-up in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont, is also expected in the Haskell.—Pete Denk
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