Brilliant Berti takes American Derby; Dancing N Dixie prevails in Tepin Stakes

Brilliant Berti and Dancing N Dixie each pulled off mild upsets in two turf stakes for 3-year-olds on Saturday's busy card at Churchill Downs, taking the $250,000 American Derby and the $250,000 Tepin Stakes, respectively, beneath the twin spires.

Brilliant Berti ($13.16) completed an unbeaten spring on the Churchill Downs turf by cruising to a 2 1/4-length win over First World War in the American Derby.

The Noble Mission colt, a Klein Racing homebred trained by Cherie DeVaux, was fifth in his debut at Fair Grounds in February. He came to Kentucky for the spring, and broke his maiden in a 1 1/16-mile race on the Churchill turf on May 2, then took his first start against winners, a one-mile allowance-optional claiming event on June 7.

In the American Derby, his stakes debut, he settled well early under Brian Hernandez Jr., then began picking up horses under his own steam around the far turn. When the running began in earnest, he wore down First World War in upper stretch, and powered away in the final furlong for the score. Brilliant Berti stopped the clock in 1:41.92 for the 1 1/16 miles on turf that was firm, on a hot, humid day in Louisville.

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"He showed a lot of talent in the beginning when he came to us, and it just took a while for him to get to the races," DeVaux said. "His first start, he had a lot to learn, and all his starts since have been at Churchill."

First World War, a half-length winner of the Grade 3 Kitten's Joy and a nose winner of the Grade 3 Penn Mile this year, found himself on the other end of the exacta this time, finishing a length ahead of Green Light. The latter, sent away favored in his stakes debut off a runaway maiden win at Churchill, yielded in the stretch after setting a moderate pace early, holding third by a neck over Lagynos. They were followed, in order, by Agate Road, Depiction, Freedom Principle, and Moonlight.

Later in the card, Dancing N Dixie launched a furious rally to get up by a neck over Mo Fox Givin in the Tepin.

Dancing N Dixie ($11.78) was seventh of eight entering the stretch, and Jose Ortiz tipped her out to about the seven path for clear sailing for her rally. Meanwhile, up front, Mo Fox Givin, who had been crying out for running room around the turn, was splitting horses to take a narrow lead over Simply in Front, who briefly struck the lead after a big move on the turn, and the pacepressing Just Better. But a host of challengers were bearing down, and Dancing N Dixie's rally proved best, as she was up far outside in the final strides for the win.

The time was 1:36.04 for the mile.

Mo Fox Givin was second by a neck over Kathynmarissa. It was another 1 1/2 lengths to Grade 3 Penn Oaks winner Poolside With Slim, the post-time favorite, in fourth. They were followed, in order, by Just Better, My Brazilian Girl, Simply in Front, and Pipsy. The latter, winner of the Grade 3 Soaring Softly at six furlongs in her U.S. debut, led through the opening half before weakening.

Dancing N Dixie, a minor stakes winner on Gulfstream's synthetic last year, notched her first victory of 2024 in her fifth start this season. She had turned in two solid efforts in Kentucky this spring, finishing third, beaten less than a length, in the Grade 2 Appalachian on Keeneland turf rated good, and then third in the Grade 2 Edgewood on yielding Churchill turf.

"She definitely seems to appreciate firmer ground and really kicked home well," Allen Hardy, assistant to trainer Mark Casse, said. "I think the last two starts she ran well but definitely appreciated the ground more today to run her best effort."

Casse trains Dancing N Dixie, a Florida-bred daughter of Neolithic, for Gary Barber, Rocky Top Stables, and LEMB Stables.

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