Bernardini - 2006 Preakness Stakes (Dave Johnson's Call)

[PAPSheets]

I boxed Bernardini and Barbaro in the exacta, not thinking I needed a win bet. I slept through the race, checked the result, said to my Mom, "Barbaro didn't hit the board." SHe responded with "It was much worse than that."

Couldn't believe it.

[lacouerfairy]

When you saw Barbaro being pulled up, you wanted the camera to go to him, but they had to continue showing the race.

[MsAshmileyfan]

rest in peace barbaro!! :'(

[Brian211978]

Sounds like Dave takes the deepest breath he can to make that AND DOWN THE STRETCH THEY COME call!

[GBeret83]

If thing's hadn't gone so tragically wrong fro Barbaro on this day, I truly believe that this race would've been the start of one of the best head to head rivalries between 2 American conventional dirt colt's since the Sunday Silence vs. Easy Goer dual's of 1989. Without a doubt, both Barbaro and Bernardini were 2 of the most talented American dirt horses for awhile. Both of their record's speak for themselves. Trying to have handicapped the 2 in the same race would've been like splitting hairs.

[ramairluvr]

@GBeret83 Totally agree with you GBeret. Wouldn't that have been something for all of us to see?!?!

[xXpunkadelicaXx]

Bernardini raced well it was his day, and Barbaro's day. Zenyatta was bred to Bernardini and it's going to be one hell of a foal!! But we <3 u Barbaro!!! I have his Breyer Horse collectable (that they for some stupid reason stopped making!!! so it's a limited edition now I guess idk) But Barbaro and Bernardini are going to be the horses that go down in history like Secretariat, Ruffian, Smarty Jones, John Henry, and many others! <3 Rip Barbaro

[barboro1]

this race makes me sad barbaro would have won it but the worst happened rip barbaro you will always be remembered

[rad7610884]

This is so hard to watch.I wasn't interested in Belmont after thiis happened.I was thinking about Barbaro's well being the whole time.

[BarbaroLover2003]

Barbaro...my love....my baby...i watched every race of his. i loved him sooo much. and still doo. i miss him...

[BettorOffSingle]

This was tragic: I had a $5.00 exacta box of Bernardini and Barbaro! Seriously, it was horrible, and I slept through the race. I noted to my Mom "Barbaro didn't hit the board." She was like "it's a lot worse than that."

[armed2themax]

Bernardini ran a fantastic race. It would have been difficult for Barbaro to win the Preakness regardless.

[FireGirlG]

Had the start of the race not gone so horribly wrong, this race would have had a hell of a stretch run. Barbaro and Bernardini would no doubt have given us a show.

[RandomPerson652]

God. This just reminds me too much of Ruffian. RIP Barbaro.

[Starbuc1]

It my life, to races have broken my heart. The ill-advised match race that cost us Ruffian and this one. You knew it was really bad, but Barbaro was always a fighter. RIP boy.

As for the Bernardini question, Barbaro would have taken him and the Belmont. He had the magic reserved for just a few, you saw it in the Derby. So sad we never got to see it again. Bernardini is a happy guy, off to stud. So in the end, he did win something perhaps better than a win, a life.

[jfurry616]

Its Amazing- Johnson's at a loss for words, and it shakes him throughout the call.

All we can imagine is what could have happened between Barbaro and Bernardini- could have been Sunday Silence and Easy goer all over again.

[millreef42]

tomar...these are the same horses that barbaro beat in the KD..what do you mean he didnt beat much? then you have to say that same about barbaro..if that's the case then barbaro was not as good as people think

[millreef42]

from what bernardini did after this race..it is safe to say barbaro would not have beaten him in this race or any other race

[squad741]

Although Bernardini ran a great race in the preakness Barbaro would have won. Barbaro would have won the Triple crown and would have matched Seattle Slew as only the second undefeated triple crown winner.

[KrisandGM4Life]

@millreef42 You are titled to your opinion. If I recall, Barbaro won by 6 in the Derby with a hand ride, and Bernardini won by 5 in the Preakness and was whipped. I do not mean to offend, but I believe that Barbaro and Bernardini would've battle down to the wire with no more then a mere neck or head, maybe a length, separating them at the wire.. As for who would've won, I do not know. We will never know, because it wasn't meant to be. Rest in peace, beautiful Barbaro.

[FireGirlG]

If all had gone as planned, a Barbaro vs. Bernardini duel would have been a helluva stretch run. I have to believe that Barbaro would have gutted it out and won, but we'll never know. Props to Bernardini for a great race none-the-less. Rest in peace Barbaro.

[lengua92]

Bernardini was a monster

[xxxcullenxx8]

Poor Barbaro!

i'll miss him

[SophieMcculloch]

what happened to barboro?

[myfrobert]

Barbaro hurt maybe one of his legs on the field and this was a fatal injury which made Barbaro be put down one year later. Now I just finally found the video which shows this tragic moment.

[westxlcr]

I wonder if anyone has Dave Rodman's call of this race...

[tomar111292]

he didnt really beat much the only time he was tested was in the breederscup when he lost to invasor great horse just not that great as everyone says he is.

[RayGordon888]

This would have been a great rivalry.

Had them boxed in the exa and didn't hit a single exotic with Bernardini all over the place.  Didn't think I needed the win bet.

Sad.

[jess4metoo]

I miss Dave Johnson's calls. Don't care what anybody says.

[Wings71ny]

yeah but nice call Dave Johnson you missed the Barbaro incident by 15 seconds...

[carlykaiser]

I have got to listen to these with just Dave.

I love Bernardini. I loved him in the post parade. Ever since then I've been a die hard fan.

[RidingWithRuffian]

I never really realized what a good horse Bernardini was. I was one of the fans who really paid no attention to him, simply because Barbaro broke down just a couple of minutes before Bernardini's win, so all my attention went out to Barbaro.

But coming back to this race some 2 years later, I realize just how good this horse was. I use to only like the name; Where else would you hear the word "BERNARDINI"? I love that name!

Good job Bernardini!

But RIP my racing hero Barbaro <3

[seggymon]

I really like Bernardini. I loved Barbaro and it took me forever to realize how talented Bernardini was in his own right. He's beautiful too and his career was way too short. Thanks for posting. rip Barbaro.

[cf1970]

I agree; Bernardini was a brilliant horse. I think Bernardini and Barbaro would have been a rivalry for the ages. I still don't know who would have won this race, with all things being equal. I loved 'em both!

Glad you enjoyed the video.

[Starlilica]

@cf1970 I completely agree. It wasn't until it was announced that Zenyatta was to be bred to Bernardini that I started to look him up and realize what a champion he was and still is.

But to this day this race kills me. I cry every time.

[queenzenyatta]

you lucky lucky horse Bernardini ! The results of zenyatta bred foal could be a freak. So excited for the choose made by Team Z

Oyah...... zenyatta HORSE OF A LIFETIME!

[Briano696969]

a fantastic display by bernardini

[ragstoricheslover]

such a sad race