Gala Award can't be denied in Pennine Ridge Stakes

Although the Listed Pennine Ridge Stakes at Belmont on May 26 was only the fifth career start for Bernardini's son Gala Award, the three-year-old appears to be getting better and better and dug in down the stretch for a courageous, second lifetime added-money win. Earlier this year, in just his third career start, he won the G3 Palm Beach on the turf at Gulfstream.

As he did in the Palm Beach win, Gala Award found himself tracking the leaders in the Pennine Ridge just off the pace in third until the field turned for home. He was shuffled back just a bit as he entered the stretch but was able to get on track and wore down the leaders to pull away at the wire.

Gala Award is the third Graded Stakes winner produced by the Carson City mare Wilshewed, who is also the dam of G1 winner Stormello and G2 winner My Best Brother. A $1.55 million Keeneland September yearling purchase, Gala Award was bred by William L. Currin in Kentucky.

Gala Award is one of eight 2014 Group or Graded winners which include the Australian G1 winners Go Indy Go and Boban. He has sired a total of eight career G1 winners led by back-to-back Travers winners Stay Thirsty and Alpha. Stay Thirsty also won the G1 Cigar Mile a race also won by Bernardini's other son To Honor And Serve, also in consecutive years.

Bernardini stands at Kelvinside, NSW, for a fee of $33,000 (incl GST).