Bernardini (USA)
March 23, 2003 – Living
A.P. Indy (USA) x Cara Rafaela (USA), by Quiet American (USA)
Family 4-m
March 23, 2003 – Living
A.P. Indy (USA) x Cara Rafaela (USA), by Quiet American (USA)
Family 4-m
Bernardini's dominating performance in the 2006 Preakness Stakes (USA-I) was nearly lost in the grief and drama surrounding the breakdown of the previously undefeated Kentucky Derby (USA-I) winner, Barbaro. While Barbaro fought an eventually unsuccessful battle for his life, Bernardini continued progressing and went into the Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-I) as the favorite after dominating older horses in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA-I). He went under by a length to Invasor but was clearly the second best American racehorse of 2006. He has not been the most consistent of stallions, but his best runners have been very good indeed.
Race record
8 starts, 6 wins, 1 second, 0 thirds, US$3,060,480
2006:
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old male (2006)
As an individual
Widely considered to be an exceptionally handsome horse, Bernardini is a smoothly made bay of the American classic type with an excellent shoulder.
As a stallion
As of the end of 2017, Bernardini has sired 14 Grade or Group 1 winners. He led the American second-crop sire list in 2011 and the American third-crop sire list in 2012 and was ninth on the American general sire list in 2016.
Notable progeny
A Z Warrior (USA), Alpha (USA), Angela Renee (USA), Biondetti (USA), Boban (AUS), Cavorting (USA), Dame Dorothy (USA), Greenpointcrusader (USA), Go Indy Go (AUS), Rachel's Valentina (USA), Ruud Awakening, Stay Thirsty (USA), Takaful (USA), To Honor and Serve (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Bernardini was bred and owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum's Darley operation. He was trained by Thomas Albertrani. He entered stud in Kentucky in 2007 at Darley at Jonabell and has also shuttled to Darley's Australian stud.
Pedigree notes
Bernardini is inbred 5x4x5 to 1957 American Horse of the Year and eight-time American champion sire Bold Ruler. He is a half brother to Grade I-placed Ile de France (by Storm Cat), dam of multiple Grade I winner Love and Pride (by A.P. Indy). He is also a half brother to Lovely Regina (by Deputy Minister), dam of multiple Grade III winner Thiskyhasnolimit.
Bernardini's dam Cara Rafaela won the 1995 Hollywood Starlet Stakes (USA-I). She is a half sister to multiple Grade III winner Abaginone (by Devil's Bag) and to Port Isabel (by Time to Explode), dam of listed stakes winner Portside (by Congrats). She is also a half sister to Nogalus (by Trempolino), second dam of 2016 Gran Premio Polla de Potrancas (PER-I) winner Secret Garden.
Oil Fable, the dam of Cara Rafaela, is a Spectacular Bid half sister to Southern Fable (by Exclusive Native), dam of listed stakes winner Up Dip (by Kerosene), and to stakes-placed Haiati (by Alydar), dam of restricted stakes winner Haleakala (by Kris). She is also a half sister to Alyfable (by Alydar), dam of stakes winner Megan's Leprechaun (by Green Dancer). She is out of 1982 Palomar Handicap (USA-III) winner Northern Fable (by Northern Dancer--Fairway Fable, by Never Bend), whose half sister Affirmative Fable (by Affirmed) is the dam of English Group III winner Majmu (by Al Nasr) and the second dam of multiple Group I winner Muhtathir. Another half sister to Northern Fable, Prospector's Fable (by Mr. Prospector), is the second dam of Grade II winner Hook and Ladder.
Fun facts
Race record
8 starts, 6 wins, 1 second, 0 thirds, US$3,060,480
2006:
- Won Preakness Stakes (USA-I, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- Won Travers Stakes (USA-I, 10FD, Saratoga)
- Won Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA-I, 10FD, Belmont)
- Won Jim Dandy Stakes (USA-II, 9FD, Saratoga)
- Won Withers Stakes (USA-III, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-I, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old male (2006)
As an individual
Widely considered to be an exceptionally handsome horse, Bernardini is a smoothly made bay of the American classic type with an excellent shoulder.
As a stallion
As of the end of 2017, Bernardini has sired 14 Grade or Group 1 winners. He led the American second-crop sire list in 2011 and the American third-crop sire list in 2012 and was ninth on the American general sire list in 2016.
Notable progeny
A Z Warrior (USA), Alpha (USA), Angela Renee (USA), Biondetti (USA), Boban (AUS), Cavorting (USA), Dame Dorothy (USA), Greenpointcrusader (USA), Go Indy Go (AUS), Rachel's Valentina (USA), Ruud Awakening, Stay Thirsty (USA), Takaful (USA), To Honor and Serve (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Bernardini was bred and owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum's Darley operation. He was trained by Thomas Albertrani. He entered stud in Kentucky in 2007 at Darley at Jonabell and has also shuttled to Darley's Australian stud.
Pedigree notes
Bernardini is inbred 5x4x5 to 1957 American Horse of the Year and eight-time American champion sire Bold Ruler. He is a half brother to Grade I-placed Ile de France (by Storm Cat), dam of multiple Grade I winner Love and Pride (by A.P. Indy). He is also a half brother to Lovely Regina (by Deputy Minister), dam of multiple Grade III winner Thiskyhasnolimit.
Bernardini's dam Cara Rafaela won the 1995 Hollywood Starlet Stakes (USA-I). She is a half sister to multiple Grade III winner Abaginone (by Devil's Bag) and to Port Isabel (by Time to Explode), dam of listed stakes winner Portside (by Congrats). She is also a half sister to Nogalus (by Trempolino), second dam of 2016 Gran Premio Polla de Potrancas (PER-I) winner Secret Garden.
Oil Fable, the dam of Cara Rafaela, is a Spectacular Bid half sister to Southern Fable (by Exclusive Native), dam of listed stakes winner Up Dip (by Kerosene), and to stakes-placed Haiati (by Alydar), dam of restricted stakes winner Haleakala (by Kris). She is also a half sister to Alyfable (by Alydar), dam of stakes winner Megan's Leprechaun (by Green Dancer). She is out of 1982 Palomar Handicap (USA-III) winner Northern Fable (by Northern Dancer--Fairway Fable, by Never Bend), whose half sister Affirmative Fable (by Affirmed) is the dam of English Group III winner Majmu (by Al Nasr) and the second dam of multiple Group I winner Muhtathir. Another half sister to Northern Fable, Prospector's Fable (by Mr. Prospector), is the second dam of Grade II winner Hook and Ladder.
Fun facts
- Bernardini is one of only two stallions to have been mated with two mares that earned American Horse of the Year honors since championship voting began in 1936—in his case, Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta. The other was Alibhai, who was mated to both Busher and Twilight Tear and sired the excellent gelding Bardstown from the latter.