Buffum goes wire-to-wire in G3 Bold Ruler Handicap

There was no denying Bernardini's son Buffum, who posted a determined win in the G3 Bold Ruler Handicap at Belmont Park October 27. Out of the gate, Buffum quickly went straight to the lead in the 1400m race to set the pace. Still on top turning for home, Buffum held off foes in the home straight for a game victory.

A $1.2 million yearling, Buffum is out of the Stakes-winning Storm Cat mare Storm Beauty, who is also the dam of Stakes winner/Graded-placed Stormy West, Graded-placed Renaissance Lady, and multiple Stakes-placed Value Stream. The mare is a half-sister to Champion Gold Beauty, and the family includes G1 winners Sky Beauty, Tale Of Ekati, and Pleasant Home. Buffum was bred by Brushwood Stable.

Four-year-old Buffum is from the first crop of Bernardini, a crop that includes multiple G1 winner To Honor And Serve and G1 Travers winner Stay Thirsty, with a total of eight G1 horses and four G1 winners. His second crop has proven just as successful, as it includes G1 Travers winner Alpha, making Bernardini the only horse ever to sire two Travers winners in his first two crops. Other 2012 Graded Stakes winners for Bernardini include Algorithms, Via Villaggio, and Le Bernardin.

Bernardini stands at Darley Kelvinside at a fee of $55,000 incl GST and enjoyed a Stakes double this week in Australia and New Zealand with Solemn winning the Geelong Classic and 2yo filly Ruud Awakening an impressive winner of the Wellesley Stakes at Trentham on Saturday.