Bernardinis sweep Ruffian

It was an exacta sweep for successful young stallion Bernardini in the Grade 2 Ruffian Stakes on Saturday at Belmont Park, as Cavorting bested Carrumba by five lengths. In addition to sharing a sire, both fillies are from solid female families.

The Ruffian was the fourth graded stakes victory for Cavorting, who pushed her earnings past the million-dollar mark with the win. She is out of the Grade 2-winning Carson City mare Promenade Girl, whose 2-year-old Thirstforlife recently ran a good third in his career debut in the Kentucky Juvenile. He is from the first crop of Bernardini’s son Stay Thirsty.

Cavorting is from the extended family of Grade/Group 1 winners Another Review, No Review, Ashkal Way, Tosen Ra, Flower Alley, Spielberg, Urbane, and Nobiliary.

Carrumba, who won the Grade 3 Top Flight Handicap in her previous outing, is out of the El Prado mare Castanet. Out of Grade 1-placed Dancinginmydreams – a half-sister to champion Heavenly Prize and Grade 1 winner Oh What a Windfall, among others – Castanet is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Dancing Forever. It is the family of Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Dancing Spree and additional Grade 1 winners Good Reward, Persistently, Furlough, Fantastic Find, and Finder’s Fee.