Atras takes two shots at repeat in Bernardini Stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Rob Atras will take two shots at winning a second Bernardini Stakes on Saturday.

Last year, Atras won the inaugural running of the Bernardini with Royal Albert Hall. Wednesday, he entered both Dynamax Prime and Heavy Roller as part of a nine-horse field in the Bernardini. The Bernardini is unusual in that it is run at 1 5/16 miles.

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The Bernardini had been mentioned as a possible spot for Mr. Buff. Of course, his connections altered course and ran him in last Saturday’s Haynesfield Stakes, a race he won by 20 lengths. That was good news for Dynamax Prime, who finished second to Mr. Buff four times in 2019, including in the Alex M. Robb Stakes last Dec. 28.

Dynamax Prime won a starter allowance going 1 1/4 miles at Laurel last March when trained by Claudio Gonzalez.

“I like him at a mile and an eighth,” Atras said. “I know this is a little farther but he always keeps coming, he’s a grinder. I think he should handle the distance.”

Atras has had Heavy Roller for only two starts. The 6-year-old gelding by Malibu Moon won a $50,000 claimer going 1 1/8 miles on Jan. 4, his first start after being claimed for $62,500. On Jan. 20, he finished 9 1/4 lengths behind Wicked Trick and 5 1/2 lengths in front of Dynamax Prime in a one-mile starter allowance.

Atras said in that race Heavy Roller “was a little bit out of his comfort zone.”

“He’s got a very big stride,” Atras said.

Kendrick Carmouche will ride Dynamax Prime, while Jorge Vargas Jr. rides Heavy Roller.

The field also includes Adventist, Armament, Backsideofthemoon, Blugrascat’s Smile, Ekhtibaar, Leitone, and Patagonia.