Bernardini's sire A. P. Indy has long emerged as the best dirt route sire out there. He's by Seattle Slew out of a Secretariat mare - which means two triple crown winners and no Mr. Prospector or Storm Cat.
A. P. Indy
Bernardini's dam Cara Rafaela was an extremely precocious route horse. She was a close 2nd in the BC Juvie fillies and won a strong Grade 1 as a 2yo - and her career quickly went to absolute sh!t. Though she was able to win a division of a 39K restricted stakes at Fairplex as an older horse.
CARA RAF:
Cara Rafaela's half brother was the wickedly fast So. Cal sprinter from the Mid 90's Abaginone.
Even though Bernardini's race record is similar to A. P. Indy's (Bernardini was the better race horse of the two by the way) I have my doubts his offspring tendencies will be similar.. especially with what I've seen from his first crop.
Bernardini's offspring are looking quicker and a lot better suited to sprinting than A. P. Indy's. He's only had one crop race so far - and the best horses have been To Honor and Serve, A. P. Warrior, Stay Thirsty, and Biondetti ... but you'd think he's already proven himself a great stallion.
Hopefully a lot of his good offspring don't develop like his mom did. Interesting to follow - because he could be either the next all-time great stallion - or a just a very good stallion who sires a lot of well bred flash in the pan types that look real promising and fizzle.