Bernardini Skips Belmont Stakes Race

Darley Stables has confirmed that 2006 Preakness Stakes winner, Bernardini, won’t be making an appearance in the Belmont Stakes race on June 10, the final leg of US thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown.

The decision is another blow for the Belmont, which is already without Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, who suffered career-ending and life-threatening injuries in the Preakness on Saturday.

In just his fourth career start, Bernardini pulled away for a 5 1/4-length in the Preakness but was overshadowed by the serious injury to Barbaro, who broke three bones in his right rear leg and underwent six-hour surgery.

The decision to not run Bernardini in the Preakness was made by Dubai’s Sheikh Mohammed, who wants the colt to rest. Bernardini could run in the Jim Dandy, Haskell or Travers Stakes in August.

“Given the fact that Bernardini only broke his maiden in March and won a Grade 1 race in May, we feel that he climbed the ladder of competition quite quickly,” said James Bell of Darley Stables. “Having said that, we believe he deserves a break.”

No horse has won the Triple Crown since Affirmed in 1978.

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