Bernardini (USA)
March 23, 2003 – July 30, 2021
A.P. Indy (USA) x Cara Rafaela (USA), by Quiet American (USA)
Family 4-m
March 23, 2003 – July 30, 2021
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-G1) was nearly lost in the grief and drama surrounding the breakdown of the previously undefeated Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) winner, Barbaro. While Barbaro fought an eventually unsuccessful battle for his life, Bernardini continued progressing and went into the Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-G1) as the favorite after dominating older horses in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA-G1). He went under by a length to Invasor but was clearly the second best American racehorse of 2006. He was not 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)
Assessments
Bernardini earned ratings of 128 pounds on the 2006 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings for his performances in the 2006 Travers Stakes and Jockey Club Gold Cup, 1 pound below the overall highweight, Invasor.
As an individual
Widely considered to be an exceptionally handsome horse, Bernardini was a smoothly made bay of the American classic type with an excellent shoulder. He stood 16.1½ hands.
As a stallion
As of July 1, 2023, Bernardini has sired 935 winners (44.6%) and 86 stakes winners (4.1%) from 2097 named foals of racing age.
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
Per The Blood-Horse:
Notable progeny
A Z Warrior (USA), Alpha (USA), Angela Renee (USA), Art Collector (USA), Biondetti (USA), Boban (AUS), Capezzano (USA), Cavorting (USA), Dame Dorothy (USA), Greenpointcrusader (USA), Go Indy Go (AUS), Rachel's Valentina (USA), Ruud Awakening (AUS), Stay Thirsty (USA), Takaful (USA), To Honor and Serve (USA), West Will Power (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Catholic Boy (USA), Clairiere (USA), Colonel Liam (USA), Dunbar Road (USA), Matareya (USA), Maxfield (USA), Paris Lights (USA), Serengeti Empress (USA), Speaker's Corner (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 and was ridden to his Preakness victory by Javier Castellano, his regular jockey. He entered stud in Kentucky in 2007 at Darley at Jonabell (where he was cared for by Philip Hampton throughout his stud career) and also shuttled to Darley's Australian stud. Bernardini was euthanized due to complications of laminitis on July 30, 2021.
Pedigree notes
Bernardini is inbred 5x4x5 to 1957 American Horse of the Year and eight-time American champion sire Bold Ruler. He is a full brother to Kind Words, whose Shamardal daughter Amazing Speed was a champion older mare in Saudi Arabia. He is a half brother to Grade 1-placed Ile de France (by Storm Cat), dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Love and Pride (by A.P. Indy; dam of stakes winner Princesinha Julia, by Pioneerof the Nile). He is also a half brother to Lovely Regina (by Deputy Minister), dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Thiskyhasnolimit (by Sky Mesa), and of Burgundy Ice (by Storm Cat), dam of stakes winner Sunset Wish (by Malibu Moon).
Bernardini's dam Cara Rafaela won the 1995 Hollywood Starlet Stakes (USA-G1). She is a half sister to multiple Grade 3 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-G1) 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-G3) winner Northern Fable (by Northern Dancer--Fairway Fable, by Never Bend), whose half sister Affirmative Fable (by Affirmed) is the dam of English Group 3 winner Majmu (by Al Nasr) and the second dam of multiple Group 1 winner Muhtathir. Another half sister to Northern Fable, Prospector's Fable (by Mr. Prospector), is the second dam of Grade 2 winner Hook and Ladder.
Fun facts
Photo credit
Portrait photo taken by Jessica Morgan at Darley at Jonabell in 2016. Used by permission.
Last updated: July 1, 2023
Race record
8 starts, 6 wins, 1 second, 0 thirds, US$3,060,480
2006:
- Won Preakness Stakes (USA-G1, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- Won Travers Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
- Won Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA-G1, 10FD, Belmont)
- Won Jim Dandy Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Saratoga)
- Won Withers Stakes (USA-G3, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-G1, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old male (2006)
Assessments
Bernardini earned ratings of 128 pounds on the 2006 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings for his performances in the 2006 Travers Stakes and Jockey Club Gold Cup, 1 pound below the overall highweight, Invasor.
As an individual
Widely considered to be an exceptionally handsome horse, Bernardini was a smoothly made bay of the American classic type with an excellent shoulder. He stood 16.1½ hands.
As a stallion
As of July 1, 2023, Bernardini has sired 935 winners (44.6%) and 86 stakes winners (4.1%) from 2097 named foals of racing age.
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
- Led the New Zealand juvenile sire list in 2012/2013.
- 9th on the North American general sire list in 2016.
- 4th on the North American broodmare sire list in 2021; 8th in 2022; 9th in 2019 and 2020.
Per The Blood-Horse:
- 9th on the American general sire list in 2016.
- Led the American broodmare sire list in 2022; 9th in 2021.
Notable progeny
A Z Warrior (USA), Alpha (USA), Angela Renee (USA), Art Collector (USA), Biondetti (USA), Boban (AUS), Capezzano (USA), Cavorting (USA), Dame Dorothy (USA), Greenpointcrusader (USA), Go Indy Go (AUS), Rachel's Valentina (USA), Ruud Awakening (AUS), Stay Thirsty (USA), Takaful (USA), To Honor and Serve (USA), West Will Power (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Catholic Boy (USA), Clairiere (USA), Colonel Liam (USA), Dunbar Road (USA), Matareya (USA), Maxfield (USA), Paris Lights (USA), Serengeti Empress (USA), Speaker's Corner (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 and was ridden to his Preakness victory by Javier Castellano, his regular jockey. He entered stud in Kentucky in 2007 at Darley at Jonabell (where he was cared for by Philip Hampton throughout his stud career) and also shuttled to Darley's Australian stud. Bernardini was euthanized due to complications of laminitis on July 30, 2021.
Pedigree notes
Bernardini is inbred 5x4x5 to 1957 American Horse of the Year and eight-time American champion sire Bold Ruler. He is a full brother to Kind Words, whose Shamardal daughter Amazing Speed was a champion older mare in Saudi Arabia. He is a half brother to Grade 1-placed Ile de France (by Storm Cat), dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Love and Pride (by A.P. Indy; dam of stakes winner Princesinha Julia, by Pioneerof the Nile). He is also a half brother to Lovely Regina (by Deputy Minister), dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Thiskyhasnolimit (by Sky Mesa), and of Burgundy Ice (by Storm Cat), dam of stakes winner Sunset Wish (by Malibu Moon).
Bernardini's dam Cara Rafaela won the 1995 Hollywood Starlet Stakes (USA-G1). She is a half sister to multiple Grade 3 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-G1) 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-G3) winner Northern Fable (by Northern Dancer--Fairway Fable, by Never Bend), whose half sister Affirmative Fable (by Affirmed) is the dam of English Group 3 winner Majmu (by Al Nasr) and the second dam of multiple Group 1 winner Muhtathir. Another half sister to Northern Fable, Prospector's Fable (by Mr. Prospector), is the second dam of Grade 2 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.
- Bernardini became the namesake for a stakes race at Aqueduct.
- According to a release from Darley at Jonabell, Bernardini became the youngest stallion ever to reach the mark of 50 stakes winners as a broodmare sire in May 2021.
Photo credit
Portrait photo taken by Jessica Morgan at Darley at Jonabell in 2016. Used by permission.
Last updated: July 1, 2023