Brilliant Berti, Roll On Big Joe win Churchill undercard stakes

Klein Racing’s homebred Brilliant Berti overcame a dawdling pace and powered home in the stretch Saturday to win the 36th running of the Grade 2, $500,000 Wise Dan Stakes at Churchill Downs by three-quarters of a length over Taking Candy with Lagynos another nose back in third.

Ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr. and trained by Cherie DeVaux, Brilliant Berti completed 1 1/16 miles over the firm turf in 1:43.41, the slowest of nine editions of the Wise Dan at the distance. DeVaux also trained the runner-up.

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In his previous start Brilliant Berti went to the front in the pace-less $275,000 Arlington (G3) at Churchill Downs on May 31 only to be caught by Mercante to lose by a neck in the final yards. That was not Brilliant Berti’s ideal running style.

Seminole Chief fell into the lead by default Saturday when it appeared that none of the seven entrants wanted to go to the front. He set measured fractions of 24.96 and 50.31 seconds as Brilliant Berti tracked in a comfortable fourth position up the backstretch.

Mi Hermano Ramón had enough of the slow fractions and made a move for the lead on the final turn after six furlongs in 1:14.17. Brilliant Berti tipped out five wide to collar Mi Hermano Ramón at the eighth pole, but he had to outkick Taking Candy and Lagynos to his inside with a sixteenth of a mile to run to ensure the victory.

“In the Arlington Stakes I got floated pretty wide going into the first turn, and it sort of forced me to go,” Hernandez said. “Today I was able to track just off the pace, much more to his style. He really picked it up down the lane late for me to get the job done.”

Brilliant Berti returned $6.08, $3.64 and $2.66 for his Wise Dan victory as the 2-1 favorite. Taking Candy, under José Ortiz, paid $5.24 and $3.54 at odds of 5-1. Lagynos, under Flavien Prat, paid $4.66 to show.

This marked the fifth stakes triumph for Brilliant Berti, who won the listed Opening Verse at Churchill Downs this year. As a 3-year-old, he won the $250,000 American Derby, $1.5 million Gun Runner and $600,000 Bryan Station (G3).

Brilliant Berti, a 4-year-old son of Noble Mission out of Langfuhr mare Believe in Berti, was bred in Kentucky by her owner Richard Klein. He earned $303,230 for the win, which improved his career earnings to $2,170,745. He sports a record of 11: 7-2-0 and is 5-for-6 over the Churchill Downs grass course.

“He is such a testament to the Klein family and their breeding program,” DeVaux said. “So much credit goes to Richard and his family for their program. (Taking Candy) ran a huge race as well. He fought hard to get second.”

Mi Hermano Ramón and New York invader Fort Washington, the 2-1 second choice, finished a length in back of Lagynos in a dead heat for fourth and were followed by Henro and Seminole Chief.

The 5-2 morning-line favorite Mercante and Event Detail were scratched.

Roll On Big Joe rallies in Kelly’s Landing

Roll On Big Joe collared speedster Booth at the top of the stretch and turned back late runs by 8-5 favorite Dr. Venkman and Durante to win the 15th running of the $220,000 Kelly’s Landing (G3) by three-quarters of a length.

Ridden by Julien Leparoux, Roll On Big Joe clocked 6 1/2 furlongs over a fast track in 1:15.22 for trainer Bob Hess Jr. and owners Rancho Temescal, White Fence and Richard Hale Jr.

The triumph for the Florida-bred was worth $120,280 and boosted Roll On Big Joe’s bankroll to $494,400 with a record of 18: 7-6-1.

Multiple stakes winner Booth, the 9-5 second betting choice, went to the front as expected and rattled off fractions of 22.33 and 44.97 seconds as Roll On Big Joe raced in second.

Roll On Big Joe began to press the leader on the turn, poked his nose in front at the top of the stretch and then had to hold off late runs by San Diego Handicap (G2) winner Dr. Venkman to his inside and Aristides winner Durante to his outside.

“I was able to sit a really good trip today just outside the speed,” Leparoux said. “He won at this distance in his last start and was able to keep fighting all the way to the wire.”

Roll On Big Joe, who entered the race off an optional-claiming allowance win at Churchill Downs on May 16, returned $11.90, $4.86 and $3.98 as the 9-2 third betting choice. Dr. Venkman, who encountered brief traffic trouble with a furlong to run under Antonio Fresu, was second and returned $3.48 and $2.92 and finished a head in front of Durante who paid $3.94 to show under Jose Ortiz at odds of 7-1.

Booth was fourth and was followed by Happy Is a Choice, Three Technique, Otto the Conqueror and Red Flag.

Roll On Big Joe is a 5-year-old gelded son of Prospective out of Victory Gallop mare Nina’s Gift. He was bred by Max Ubide. This was his second graded-stakes win. In February, Roll On Big Joe prevailed in the $100,000 Palos Verdes (G3) at Santa Anita.

“It was great to be able to hook up again with Julien,” Hess said. “I knew him from a couple decades ago in California. He sat a great trip, and Julien gave him a perfect ride. It’s great to be here in Kentucky with him.”