Bern Identity brings love for Saratoga to stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Bern Identity returns to the scene of his finest hour, a 1 1/4-length victory in the 2012 Sanford Stakes, when he ships from Monmouth back to Saratoga for Friday’s $100,000 Tale of the Cat Stakes. The six-furlong dash, for horses who have not won a graded stakes this year, drew a good field of sprinters that also includes the Grade 1-placed Bahamian Squall and Grade 3 winner Candyman E.

Bern Identity won 3 of 5 starts while never off the board at 2. Aside from his victory over Handsome Jack in the Grade 2 Sanford, Bern Identity was second in the Grade 3 Delta Jackpot and third in the Grade 2 Hopeful. But after finishing fifth while making his 3-year-old debut the following winter in Gulfstream Park’s Holy Bull, Bern Identity went to the sidelines for more than 18 months before returning with a 4 1/4-length win over a sloppy track in an overnight stakes at Monmouth Park this month.

“I think he has a lot of talent, and I’m hoping to point him towards a big race eventually this year,” said trainer Kelly Breen. “And this looked like a good steppingstone towards that goal. I’m certain he’ll go two turns, but he may just prove to be best sprinting.”

Bahamian Squall has not won since capturing the Grade 2 Smile Sprint Handicap more than a year ago and must prove he can return to his best form after a couple of disappointing performances to open the season, including a seventh-place finish in the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt earlier in the meet. Bahamian Squall finished second in the 2013 Vanderbilt.

Candyman E seeks to snap a four-race losing streak since opening the year with a victory in Aqueduct’s Grade 3 Toboggan. He’s one of three horses trainer David Jacobson entered in the race, along with Tenango and Royal Currier.

Key CONTENDERS

BERN IDENTITY (Last 3 Beyers: 91-79-88)

◗ He loves the track, having posted a win and a third in graded stakes at Saratoga at 2.

◗ Should move forward off career-best Beyer in his 2014 debut, according to Breen, who said, “He wasn’t 100 percent fit for that race.”

BAHAMIAN SQUALL (Last 3 Beyers: 69-90-99)

◗ He brings a six-race losing streak into the race while coming off one of the poorest performances of his career in the Vanderbilt.

◗ Leading jockey Javier Castellano rides for the first time. “Just trying to shake things up by trying the red-hot rider,” said trainer David Fawkes.

CANDYMAN E (Last 3 Beyers: 83-91-77)

◗ He finished second in his only local start behind a horse who is now his stablemate, the 2013 Forego winner Strapping Groom.

◗ Has not come close to running back to his career-best effort in the Toboggan in four subsequent starts.