Exclusive Diva steals the show in Seattle Handicap

Making her first start in 2012, Bernardini's Exclusive Diva certainly showcased her ability with a win in the Seattle Handicap at Emerald Downs. The score was the second Stakes victory for the filly, who now has three wins from four starts lifetime.

In the six and one-half furlong race Exclusive Diva earned the lead right out of the gate. She responded when asked and drew away impressively, taking the race by a strong eight-and-a-half lengths.

The three-year-old filly is a homebred for Northwest Farms LLC. She is out of the Dehere mare Puxa Saco, who is a winner of the G3 Las Flores Handicap and also placed in the G1 Humana Distaff at Churchill Downs.

A son of AP Indy, Bernardini is off to a tremendous start at stud already. His first crop was certainly a strong one, with eight G1 horses and four G1 winners, and he looks to continue the success. Among his winners at the highest level are G1 Travers winner Stay Thirsty and G1 Cigar Mile victor To Honor And Serve. His second northern hemisphere-bred crop includes Graded/Group winners Gamilati, Alpha, and Algorithms.

Having sired his first southern hemisphere Stakes winner recently with two-year-old colt Boban, Bernardini will stand the forthcoming southern hemisphere breeding season at Darley Kelvinside at a fee of $55,000 (inc. GST).