Trainer Todd Pletcher put the polish on three feature winners at Aqueduct on Saturday but Bernardini colt Stay Thirsty was the one he wanted to talk about when the dust settled on a day to remember in New York.

Stablemates Stay Thirsty (G3 Gotham Stakes), Calibrachoa (G3 Tom Fool Hcp) and Sensational Slam (LR Capossela Stakes) dominated the meeting leaving Pletcher’s rivals to fight over the only other black-type available in the LR Broadway Stakes.

Stay Thirsty (3c Bernardini – Marozia by Storm Bird) drew clear for a three length victory first-up over 1700m.  “I thought he ran huge,” Pletcher said. “He’s only had five breezes and hadn’t run since November 6.  It’s very encouraging.”

“I was very, very pleased with the way he finished up.  Ramon (Dominguez) said he was very handy and was there every time he called on him.  He was impressed, as we all were.”

Stay Thirsty has now earned $300,000 and is well on the way to the G1 Kentucky Derby.  He was a five length maiden winner on debut at Saratoga and then finished second in the G1 Hopeful Stakes at the Spa.  He was a well-beaten fifth behind stablemate Uncle Mo in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Owner Mike Repole, who also races Kentucky Derby favourite Uncle Mo, will discuss Stay Thirsty’s options with Pletcher this week.  The G1 Florida Derby on April 3 or G1 Arkansas Derby on April 16 are the alternatives.

Stay Thirsty is from the first crop of Darley sire Bernardini (A.P. Indy) and he has an ideal pedigree for the Kentucky Derby on his dam’s side.  He is a half-brother to G1 Belmont Stakes runner-up Andromeda’s Hero (Fusaichi Pegasus).

His dam Marozia is closely related to G1 winner Whywhywhy (Mr. Greeley) and, further back, the family includes Prove Out (Graustark) who famously defeated Secretariat in the 1973 Woodward Stakes.

Bernardini already has front-line classic colt To Honor and Serve heading to the Twin Spies on May 7.  He reappeared in the G2 Fountain Of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park on February 26 and looked in need of the run when third to Soldat.

Stay Thirsty’s stablemate Uncle Mo is scheduled to make his seasonal bow this Saturday in the Timely Writer Stakes at Gulfstream Park.  He will then head to the G1 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 9 for a final lead-up to the Kentucky Derby.

Pletcher is gunning for a running double in the Kentucky Derby after an overdue breakthrough with Super Saver last year.