Churchill Downs: Berlino Di Tiger lasts over Chamberlain Bridge in Turf Sprint

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Berlino Di Tiger put away Southern Dude after an extended early duel, then had just enough left to hold off Chamberlain Bridge in posting an 11-1 upset Saturday in the Grade 3, $138,250 Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs.

Leandro Goncalves was aboard Brazilian-bred Berlino Di Tiger in the five-furlong race, which was run under a steady drizzle and over a turf course labeled “good.” Always prominent from the outside, the 5-year-old horse edged clear leaving the eighth pole, then was just good enough to prevail by a nose.

Owned by the Stud Sampaio of Fernando Sampaio, the winner returned $24.40 after finishing in 57.01 seconds. It was his first victory in three U.S. starts after going 7 for 9 in his native country.

Chamberlain Bridge, an 8-1 shot making his 50th career start, had another three-quarters of a length on Southern Dude in a field of eight turf-sprint specialists.

The winner is trained by Eduardo Caramori, a Brazil native who has trained horses in Kentucky for more than 20 years. Caramori, based in Lexington, Ky., has had one Derby starter in his career, First American, who ran 16th in 1999.

The $2 exacta (7-6) paid $250.80, the $1 trifecta (7-6-1) returned $894.80, and the $1 superfecta (7-6-1-3) was worth $6,319.10.

[DRF LIVE AT THE KENTUCKY DERBY: News updates, photos, videos]