Multiple stakes winner Believe in Bertie retired

Believe in Bertie, a multiple-stakes-winning 5-year-old mare, has been retired from racing and will be bred this year, owner and co-breeder Richard Klein said earlier this week.

Believe in Bertie finished second by a head in the Distaff Turf Mile on the Kentucky Derby undercard last May, was a fine second to Dona Bruja in the Mint Julep Handicap on June 10, but was unable to race again during 2017. Believe in Bertie returned to trainer Brad Cox’s Fair Grounds barn in December, but never got going the right way and was sent back to Kentucky. She worked twice over the Keeneland training track in January while overseen by trainer Charlie Lopresti, but the decision was finally made to call a halt to her racing career.

“We tried, but we just couldn’t get her right,” Klein said.

Believe in Bertie, a Louisiana-bred, is by Langfuhr out of Saint Bertie, by Street Cry, and is retired with a record of 6-5-0 from 13 starts and earnings of $413,482. Believe in Bertie roared through the 2016-17 Fair Grounds race meet in career-best form and set standing turf-course records for about one mile (1:34.22) and about 1 1/16 miles (1:40.31).