G1 winner To Honor And Serve does it again in G3 Westchester Stakes

It came as no surprise April 28 that Bernardini's G1-winning son To Honor And Serve notched yet another Graded victory - this time in Belmont's G3 Westchester Stakes. It was the 2012 debut for the colt, who effortlessly took the G1 Cigar Mile to close out 2011 for owner Live Oak Plantation.

The 1600m G3 Westchester Stakes opened with To Honor And Serve pressing the pacesetter in second. At the head of the stretch the four-year-old began to take charge where there was no turning back from there, and cruised to a final five length victory.

The highly regarded To Honor And Serve has certainly accomplished plenty at the track, with earnings far surpassing US$1million. At two he was a dual Graded Stakes winner in the G2 Remsen Stakes and G2 Nashua Stakes. He followed up at three with victories in the G1 Cigar Mile and G2 Pennsylvania Derby.

To Honor And Serve was bred by Twin Creeks Farm, Larry Byer, and Rancho San Miguel. He is out of Stakes winner Pilfer, by Deputy Minister, who is a half-sister to Graded Stakes winner India.

Bernardini, who has had the best start at stud by an American sire since 1973, is the sire of four G1 winners and eight G1 horses. In addition to To Honor And Serve, he is the sire of G1 Travers Stakes victor Stay Thirsty. His second crop looks to be just as exciting, with Graded/Group winners Alpha, Algorithms, and Gamilati.

Bernardini enjoyed a great Easter yearling sales, where his youngsters sold up to $500,000 and will stand the forthcoming southern hemisphere season at Darley's Kelvinside at a fee of $55,000 (inc. GST).