Bern Identity Sharp in Monmouth Slop

George and Lori Hall’s Bern Identity returned off a nearly 20 month layoff to capture the $60,000 My Frenchman Stakes by an emphatic 4 ¼ lengths at Monmouth Park on Saturday afternoon.

Trained by Kelly John Breen, Bern Identity covered the 5 ½ furlongs over the sloppy main track in 1:03 1/5 and returned $7.40, $4.40 and $2.80.  Heaven’s Runway completed the $45 exacta and paid $5.60 and $3.40.  It was nearly another two lengths back to Last Heartbreaker, who paid $4 to show.  The My Frenchman, originally scheduled for the turf, scratched down to five runners.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve sat on something that good,” said winning jockey Chuck C. Lopez.  “I didn’t think we’d be up that close early, but he was ready to go right from go.  At the ¼ pole I stepped on the gas and he just took off.  I was super impressed.”

Bern Identity, a 4-year-old colt by Bernstein from the Good and Tough mare Maddalena, captured the Grade 2 Sanford in his juvenile season and has now won four of eight lifetime starts.  The My Frenchman win boosted his lifetime bankroll to $670,000.