Bernardini three-year-old Wilburn showed he is certainly improving with every race October 1 by smoking rivals in the G2 Indiana Derby at Hoosier Park. It was the toughest test to date for the colt, and the second Stakes win in a row for him after taking the Smarty Jones Stakes in early September at Parx.
During the one and one-sixteenth mile race Wilburn settled in a stalking position on the inside of pacesetters. He made his move coming around the turn and strategically slipped past rivals on the inside to continue on in the stretch for a dominant win.
The well-bred colt was bred by Woodbridge Bloodstock. He is out of Graded Stakes winner Moonlight Sonata, by Carson City, who is also the dam of G2 winner Beethoven. Moonlight Sonata is a half-sister to G1 winner Bevo, and has a two-year-old filly by Bernardini as well.
Bernardini is the leading second-crop sire and is now the sire of seven Graded/Group winners from his first two crops of runners. His G1 winners include Stay Thirsty, Biondetti, and A Z Warrior. Just one week ago his three-year-old son To Honor And Serve earned his third Graded Stakes victory in the $1 million G2 Pennsylvania Derby. Bernardini is standing the current breeding season at Darley Kelvinside for a fee of $38,500 (inc GST).
