Lovely Bernadette thrives on turf in 2017 Mrs. Revere Stakes win

By Jonathan Lintner

If it’s up to trainer Jimmy DiVito, Lovely Bernadette will receive some time off this winter. Certainly, she’s earned it.

The filly stalked the pace and fended off a late charge Friday to win Churchill Downs’ Grade 2, $200,000 Mrs. Revere Stakes, her third straight victory under jockey Florent Geroux.

And so a daughter of Wilburn who DiVito originally had aspirations of starting in the Kentucky Oaks has turned into quite the turf star, with each of those wins on the grass.

“I thought we had a big chance,” DiVito said. “She was going to move up — it’s a Grade 2 — but she can move up. She’s in good shape. She’s training really good. She’s just progressing. 

“Hopefully she can get to the Grade 1, right?”

Lovely Bernadette took the lead at the top of the stretch and finished 1 1/16 miles in a final time of 1:47.02. Journey Home ran second by a half length, and Daddys Lil Darling — who made her surface switch after a runner-up effort in the Oaks, was a close third as the favorite.

Campaigned by James Miller, Lovely Bernadette entered off wins in Keeneland’s Grade 3 Valley View as well as the Indiana Grand Stakes. She switched to turf six starts back and hasn’t finished off the board since.

Lovely Bernadette returned $9.80 to win, capitalizing after Fault faded following 5/8 of a mile in 59.92 seconds.

As for what's next, DiVito envisions "rest, and to come back next year with a strong horse."