Dee Dee Bertie gives Klein family a shot at repeat repeat

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Four days after one of their homebred fillies won a Churchill Downs allowance after capturing her previous start at Keeneland, Bert and Richard Klein will have another one looking to do the same.

Dear Elaine was an impressive winner here Sunday, and now it’s Dee Dee Bertie who will carry the lime-and-black Klein silks in the richest of three allowances on an eight-race twilight Thursday card at Churchill.

“My dad really got a thrill out of seeing Dear Elaine win the way she did [Sunday],” said Richard Klein, who manages the family’s Thoroughbred holdings.

Charlie LoPresti, the Lexington-based trainer of Wise Dan fame, trains both fillies for the Kleins.

“Charlie is really excited about both of them,” said Richard Klein. “He and [his wife] Amy have done a great job with both fillies.”

Dee Dee Bertie, a last-out winner of an April 21 allowance at Keeneland, will have Brian Hernandez Jr. back aboard Thursday as a main contender in the sixth race, a $57,500, second-level race at 1 1/16 miles. Two other allowances (races 3 and 7) are entry-level races on a program that starts at 5 p.m. Eastern and ends at 8:23.

All three allowances are part of the Single Six sequence, which is offered on the last six races daily. Into Monday, the jackpot in the 20-cent Single Six had crept past the $450,000 mark while having gone unswept since a mandatory payout was held May 12.

KEY CONTENDERS (race 6)

Dee Dee Bertie, by Bluegrass Cat

Last 3 Beyers: 81-69-68

◗ She was returning from a layoff of nearly nine months when she led all the way against first-level allowance routers at Keeneland.

◗ Richard Klein: “There’s other speed in this race Thursday, but it looks like Brian should be able to work out a nice stalking trip with her.”

Conquest Curlgirl, by Curlin

Last 3 Beyers: 76-68-70

◗ One of the seemingly innumerable “Conquest” runners trained by Mark Casse, this 4-year-old filly emerged from a sustained duel to knock out her first condition here three weeks ago.

Academic Break, by Broken Vow

Last 3 Beyers: 73-83-69

◗ Winner of a maiden race here a little more than a year ago for trainer Helen Pitts, she stands to benefit from a recent comeback against tough customers on Kentucky Oaks Day.