Alpha leads all the way in G1 Woodward

Bernardini's Alpha proved he belongs with the best of North America's older horses with a wire-to-wire victory in the G1 Woodward Stakes at Saratoga Racetrack on August 31. This is the second win at the highest level for the improving four-year-old colt.

Alpha made it clear from the beginning of the race that he was determined to establish his presence and quickly gained the lead straight out of the gate. He maintined his advantage into the stretch and then held off a strong challenge from the runner-up to score a tough win.

A four-time Graded Stakes winner, Alpha now enters an elite fraternity of past winners of one of North America's top handicap races. He was bred by Darley and is out of the Stakes-winning mare Munnaya, by Nijinsky II. The colt is a half-brother to Stakes winner and Graded-placed Mystic Melody; Graded-placed Lavender Sky; and two other Black type horses. Munnaya is a half-sister to Sheer Reason and Mall Queen, both Stakes winners and Graded-placed.

Alpha is one of six G1 winners and 10 G1 horses sired by Bernardini. Included among his other G1 winners are last season's Champion New Zealand two-year-old Ruud Awakening, Stay Thirsty and multiple G1 winner To Honor And Serve.

Bernardini is standing the current season at Kelvinside at a fee of $33,000 inc. GST.