Bernstein (USA)
March 17, 1997 – October 23, 2011
Storm Cat (USA) x La Affirmed (USA), by Affirmed (USA)
Family 1-x
March 17, 1997 – October 23, 2011
Storm Cat (USA) x La Affirmed (USA), by Affirmed (USA)
Family 1-x
Bernstein was typical of Storm Cat’s progeny in being fast and precocious, but was not particularly outstanding although he did pick up a pair of Group 3 wins. As a stallion, he has had an impact far exceeding what might have been predicted based on his racing ability, particularly in Argentina, where he has been a champion sire and an important broodmare sire. Unfortunately, he died when only 14.
Race record
8 starts, 4 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds, US$172,625 (including converted European earnings)
1999:
2000:
As an individual
Registered as a dark bay or brown, Bernstein stood 16.1 hands. A very well-conformed horse, he had the strong body, excellent hip, and powerful hindquarters typical of the progeny of Storm Cat but was leggier than most.
As a stallion
Bernstein earned Pellegrini Awards as Argentina’s Stallion of the Year in 2005 and 2006 and as Argentina’s Broodmare Sire of the Year in 2019. According to Jockey Club records, Bernstein sired 926 winners (67.5%) and 85 stakes winners (6.2%) from 1371 named foals of racing age.
Sire rankings
Per El Turf (www.elturf.com):
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Per Padrillos en Linea (https://padrillosenlinea.com):
Per the Stud Book Argentino (www.studbook.org.ar):
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
Per Thoroughbred Times (previously Thoroughbred Record):
Notable progeny
Dream Empress (USA), Galactos (ARG), Goshawk Ken (USA), Karakontie (JPN), La Impaciente (ARG), Malibu Queen (ARG), Miss World (USA), Modern Green (ARG), Que Vida Buena (ARG), Savoir Bien (ARG), Storm Chizpazo (ARG), Storm Marcopolo (ARG), Storm Mayor (ARG), Storm Military (ARG), Stormy Kiss (ARG), Stormy Nimble (ARG), Stormy Nina (ARG), Stormy Ninguna (ARG), Stormy Vil (ARG), Tepin (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Atiko Rye (ARG), Atomica Oro (ARG), Calcolatore (ARG), Champagne Room (USA), Chanta Joy (ARG), Cita di Rio (ARG), Edict (ARG), Epityrum (ARG), Fondo Tropical (ARG), For the Top (ARG), Gormley (USA), Hat Mario (ARG), Hat Puntano (ARG), Hazelbrook (CAN), Joy Canela (ARG), Joy Epifora (ARG), Limited Edition (BRZ), Nastia (ARG), Power Up (ARG), Samba Inc (ARG), Seteado Joy (ARG), Sobradora Inc (ARG), Sociologa Inc (ARG), Storm Dynamico (ARG)
Connections
Bernstein was bred in Kentucky by Elizabeth Moran’s Brushwood Stable. A US$925,000 weanling at the 1997 Keeneland November mixed sale, he was purchased by Coolmore associate Demi O’Byrne. He was trained by Aidan O’Brien. He entered stud in 2002 in Kentucky at Buck Pond Farm, moving to Castleton Lyons Farm in 2005; he also shuttled to Argentina in 2001-2008, standing at Haras La Biznaga. He was euthanized at Hagyard Medical Center due to complications of colic in October 2011.
Pedigree notes
Bernstein is inbred 5x4 to five-time American champion sire Nasrullah and two-time American champion sire Princequillo and 5x5 to two-time English/Irish champion sire Nearco and two-time American Horse of the Year Native Dancer. He is a full brother to 1996 Gardenia Handicap (USA-G3) winner Country Cat and to multiple Grade 3 winner Caress, dam of 2002 Hopeful Stakes (USA-G1) winner and successful sire Sky Mesa (by Pulpit) and multiple Grade 3 winner Golden Velvet (by Seeking the Gold). Caress is also the second dam of Grade 2 winner Lucullan, Grade 3 winner Innovative Idea, and Japanese Group 3 winner Archimedes and is the third dam of 2019 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (USA-G1) winner Maxfield and Chilean Group 2 winner War Subjective.
Returning to Bernstein, he is a half brother to 2003 Belmont Breeders’ Cup Handicap (USA-G2) winner Della Francesca (by Danzig) and to Grade 3-placed Unify (by Farma Way), dam of 2012 Calvin Houghland Iroquois Hurdle Stakes (NSA-G1) winner Arcadius (by Giant’s Causeway). He is also a half brother to Emmaus (by Silver Deputy), dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Wiseman’s Ferry (by Hennessy) and third dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Good Samaritan and Grade 3 winner Brave Nation.
Bernstein and his siblings are out of La Affirmed, a winning full sister to 1986 Miss Grillo Stakes (USA-G3) winner Lovelier and a half sister to 1984 American champion 2-year-old filly Outstandingly (by Affirmed’s sire Exclusive Native); the last-named mare is the dam of English Group 2 winner Sensation (by Soviet Star) and listed stakes winner Superiority (by Arazi), the second dam of multiple Group 3 winner Systematic, Argentine Group 3 winner and Grade 3 winner Fortitude, and the third dam of Japanese Group 3 winner Fluky and Argentine Group 3 winner Elkhabar. La Affirmed is also a half sister to Corporate Queen (by Truxton King), second dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Batroyale.
La Affirmed, in turn, is out of the winning Round Table mare La Mesa, the only filly produced from Busanda’s daughter Finance. A Nasrullah half sister to 1966 American Horse of the Year and four-time American champion broodmare sire Buckpasser, Finance is also a half sister to 1963 Futurity Stakes winner Bupers (by Double Jay) and to 1957 Dwyer Handicap winner Bureaucracy (by Polynesian). In addition, Finance is a full sister to Oak Cluster, dam of multiple Group 3 winner Manitoulin (by Tom Rolfe) and second dam of 1981 Santa Anita Derby (USA-G1) winner Splendid Spruce, and a half sister to Navsup (by Tatán), dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Polish Navy (by Danzig).
Fun facts
Last updated: March 16, 2024
Race record
8 starts, 4 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds, US$172,625 (including converted European earnings)
1999:
- Won Anheuser Busch Railway Stakes (IRE-G3, 6FT, The Curragh)
2000:
- Won Coolmore Stud Home of Champions Concorde Stakes (IRE-G3, 7FT, Cork)
As an individual
Registered as a dark bay or brown, Bernstein stood 16.1 hands. A very well-conformed horse, he had the strong body, excellent hip, and powerful hindquarters typical of the progeny of Storm Cat but was leggier than most.
As a stallion
Bernstein earned Pellegrini Awards as Argentina’s Stallion of the Year in 2005 and 2006 and as Argentina’s Broodmare Sire of the Year in 2019. According to Jockey Club records, Bernstein sired 926 winners (67.5%) and 85 stakes winners (6.2%) from 1371 named foals of racing age.
Sire rankings
Per El Turf (www.elturf.com):
- 8th on the Argentine general sire list in 2012.
- Led the Argentine broodmare sire list in 2020; 2nd in 2018, 2019, and 2021; 3rd in 2015-2017; 9th in 2014.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 5th on the Argentine general sire list in 2005.
Per Padrillos en Linea (https://padrillosenlinea.com):
- 3rd on the Peruvian broodmare sire list in 2023.
Per the Stud Book Argentino (www.studbook.org.ar):
- Led the Argentine general sire list in 2009 and 2011; 3rd in 2008 and 2010; 4th in 2006; 5th in 2005; 6th in 2007; 8th in 2012.
- 2nd on the Argentine broodmare sire list in 2018 and 2019; 3rd in 2015-2017 and 2020-2022; 7th in 2023; 9th in 2014.
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
- Led the Argentine general sire list in 2009.
Per Thoroughbred Times (previously Thoroughbred Record):
- Led the Argentine general sire list in 2006 and 2007.
Notable progeny
Dream Empress (USA), Galactos (ARG), Goshawk Ken (USA), Karakontie (JPN), La Impaciente (ARG), Malibu Queen (ARG), Miss World (USA), Modern Green (ARG), Que Vida Buena (ARG), Savoir Bien (ARG), Storm Chizpazo (ARG), Storm Marcopolo (ARG), Storm Mayor (ARG), Storm Military (ARG), Stormy Kiss (ARG), Stormy Nimble (ARG), Stormy Nina (ARG), Stormy Ninguna (ARG), Stormy Vil (ARG), Tepin (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Atiko Rye (ARG), Atomica Oro (ARG), Calcolatore (ARG), Champagne Room (USA), Chanta Joy (ARG), Cita di Rio (ARG), Edict (ARG), Epityrum (ARG), Fondo Tropical (ARG), For the Top (ARG), Gormley (USA), Hat Mario (ARG), Hat Puntano (ARG), Hazelbrook (CAN), Joy Canela (ARG), Joy Epifora (ARG), Limited Edition (BRZ), Nastia (ARG), Power Up (ARG), Samba Inc (ARG), Seteado Joy (ARG), Sobradora Inc (ARG), Sociologa Inc (ARG), Storm Dynamico (ARG)
Connections
Bernstein was bred in Kentucky by Elizabeth Moran’s Brushwood Stable. A US$925,000 weanling at the 1997 Keeneland November mixed sale, he was purchased by Coolmore associate Demi O’Byrne. He was trained by Aidan O’Brien. He entered stud in 2002 in Kentucky at Buck Pond Farm, moving to Castleton Lyons Farm in 2005; he also shuttled to Argentina in 2001-2008, standing at Haras La Biznaga. He was euthanized at Hagyard Medical Center due to complications of colic in October 2011.
Pedigree notes
Bernstein is inbred 5x4 to five-time American champion sire Nasrullah and two-time American champion sire Princequillo and 5x5 to two-time English/Irish champion sire Nearco and two-time American Horse of the Year Native Dancer. He is a full brother to 1996 Gardenia Handicap (USA-G3) winner Country Cat and to multiple Grade 3 winner Caress, dam of 2002 Hopeful Stakes (USA-G1) winner and successful sire Sky Mesa (by Pulpit) and multiple Grade 3 winner Golden Velvet (by Seeking the Gold). Caress is also the second dam of Grade 2 winner Lucullan, Grade 3 winner Innovative Idea, and Japanese Group 3 winner Archimedes and is the third dam of 2019 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (USA-G1) winner Maxfield and Chilean Group 2 winner War Subjective.
Returning to Bernstein, he is a half brother to 2003 Belmont Breeders’ Cup Handicap (USA-G2) winner Della Francesca (by Danzig) and to Grade 3-placed Unify (by Farma Way), dam of 2012 Calvin Houghland Iroquois Hurdle Stakes (NSA-G1) winner Arcadius (by Giant’s Causeway). He is also a half brother to Emmaus (by Silver Deputy), dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Wiseman’s Ferry (by Hennessy) and third dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Good Samaritan and Grade 3 winner Brave Nation.
Bernstein and his siblings are out of La Affirmed, a winning full sister to 1986 Miss Grillo Stakes (USA-G3) winner Lovelier and a half sister to 1984 American champion 2-year-old filly Outstandingly (by Affirmed’s sire Exclusive Native); the last-named mare is the dam of English Group 2 winner Sensation (by Soviet Star) and listed stakes winner Superiority (by Arazi), the second dam of multiple Group 3 winner Systematic, Argentine Group 3 winner and Grade 3 winner Fortitude, and the third dam of Japanese Group 3 winner Fluky and Argentine Group 3 winner Elkhabar. La Affirmed is also a half sister to Corporate Queen (by Truxton King), second dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Batroyale.
La Affirmed, in turn, is out of the winning Round Table mare La Mesa, the only filly produced from Busanda’s daughter Finance. A Nasrullah half sister to 1966 American Horse of the Year and four-time American champion broodmare sire Buckpasser, Finance is also a half sister to 1963 Futurity Stakes winner Bupers (by Double Jay) and to 1957 Dwyer Handicap winner Bureaucracy (by Polynesian). In addition, Finance is a full sister to Oak Cluster, dam of multiple Group 3 winner Manitoulin (by Tom Rolfe) and second dam of 1981 Santa Anita Derby (USA-G1) winner Splendid Spruce, and a half sister to Navsup (by Tatán), dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Polish Navy (by Danzig).
Fun facts
- Bernstein shares his name with Leonard Bernstein, one of the most famous composers and conductors of the 20th century.
- Bernstein was part of an unprecedented triple-triple in a Classic race in a major racing nation on October 5, 2019, when the first three finishers in the Gran Premio Selección (Argentine Oaks, ARG-G1) were Nastia, Joy Canela, and Joy Epifora, in that order. All three were sired by Fortify out of Bernstein mares and were bred by Haras La Biznaga.
Last updated: March 16, 2024