Darley shuttler Bernardini continued the record-breaking start to his stud career when The Real Mayo won on debut at Mountaineer Park on Monday night.  Despite being posted wide for the entire trip, the filly raced away in the straight to score a near four length victory over 1600m.

Trainer Mike Maker had The Real Mayo primed for a forward appearance.  She had been working like a winner at Churchill Downs and Keeneland in October before facing the starter for the first time at the West Virginia course.

The win takes Bernardini’s first crop tally to 11 individual winners of 17 races.  

The Real Mayo (2f Bernardini – Mayo On The Side by French Deputy) sold for $25,000 at the 2009 Keeneland yearling sale.  Her dam was a G1 winner of the Humana Distaff Hcp at Churchill Downs before retiring to stud.  Her first foal French Dip (Speightstown) was a Listed winner at Aqueduct.

Bernardini (A.P. Indy) has sired four Group winners in his first crop this year headed by A Z Warrior (G1 Belmont Frizette Stakes) and Biondetti (G1 Milan Gran Criterium).  His other black-type winners are To Honor And Serve (G2 Aqueduct Nashua Stakes) and Theyskens’ Theory (G3 Goodwood Prestige Stakes).

He is the first freshman stallion in history to sire Group 1 winners on dirt and turf.  And his tally of four Group winners is more than any other first-season sire this year.

Those statistics are all the more impressive bearing in mind Bernardini was unraced as a two year-old.  He made up for lost time at three to became the first horse since Damascus to win the Preakness Stakes, Travers Stakes and Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Bernardini’s fee was the only increase when Darley announced the 2011 roster for its Kentucky base last week.  It will jump from $60,000 to $75,000.
He is currently covered a third southern book of mares at Darley Kelvinside for a fee of $38,500 (inc gst).