LEXINGTON, Ky. — Trainer Jim DiVito said Lovely Bernadette had “come around and turned around,” since he moved the three-year-old filly to the grass over the summer. The daughter of Wilburn proved it again on Friday, winning her second stakes in a row in the $150,000 Valley View (G3) at Keeneland before a crowd of 18,378 on another pristine fall day in Lexington.
Breaking from post 1 under Florent Geroux, Lovely Bernadette saved all the ground while alternately tracking in third and fourth behind I’m Betty G, who set fractions of :23.67, :48.03, and 1:12.69. Taken off the inside entering the stretch and making her way to the five or six path, Lovely Bernadette mowed down the long-time leader late and scooted clear to win by 1 1/2 lengths in a time of 1:42.80 on firm ground.
Owned by James Miller, Lovely Bernadette paid $11.60 as the 9-2 second choice. Journey Home, the 3-1 favorite, was along late to nab I’m Betty G for the place by a head, with Fault two lengths farther back in fourth. The order of finish was rounded out by Defiant Honor, Chastise, Sully’s Dream, Fizzy Friday, Let It Ride Mom, Princess La Quinta, Dolce Lili, Youngest Daughter, and Ladies’ Privilege. Sweeping Paddy and Dancing Breeze were scratched.
A three-time winner on dirt at two, including the $80,000 Rags to Riches, four straight unplaced efforts thereafter prompted a switch to grass for a June 8 allowance at Churchill, which Lovely Bernadette won by 1 1/2 lengths. Third in the $100,000 Ta Wee and in the Pucker Up (G3) in her next two starts, Lovely Bernadette preceded this with a 1 1/2-length tally in the $200,000 Indiana Grand. Her record now stands at 13-6-0-3, $390,613.
Bred in Kentucky by David Hager II, Lovely Bernadette was a $28,000 OBS two-year-old purchase. She was produced by Inlovewithlove, by Bernstein.
