Bourbonic rallied from last to first to capture the G2 Wood Memorial by a head at Aqueduct April 3.
Dismissed at odds of 72-1, the three-year-old colt by Bernardini not only earned his first Graded Stakes victory, but also stamped his ticket to the G1 Kentucky Derby, earning 100 points toward a spot in the starting gate on the first Saturday in May.
Ridden confidently by jockey Kendrick Carmouche, Bourbonic raced in last, several lengths behind the bulk of the field, through the early stages of the nine furlong contest. Tipped to the outside by Carmouche heading into the far turn, Bourbonic began to close on the leaders while racing out near the center of the course. The Calumet Farm homebred was under a strong drive in the stretch, and despite it appearing that he might fall a bit short, the dark bay colt nevertheless continued his drive, eventually getting up to just nail stablemate Dynamic One at the wire.
Bourbonic was bred in Kentucky and is out of G2 Delaware Oaks winner, Dancing Afleet. Bourbonic is a half-brother to multiple Graded Stakes-placed Avant Garde (2nd G2 Gulfstream Park Mile, etc.).
Bernardini is off to a strong start in 2021. In addition to Bourbonic, he is the sire of the talented fillies Micheline, winner of the G2 Hillsborough Stakes and Farsighted, winner of the Any Limit Stakes. Bernardini is also proving to be a top broodmare sire, with his daughters already producing 11 G1 winners, such as Maxfield (by Street Sense) and Colonel Liam.
Bernardini is standing the 2021 breeding season at Jonabell Farm for $35,000, stands and nurses.
