Pin Oak Stud

Jim and Dana Bernhard's Pin Oak Stud continued its buying spree at the Keeneland September Yearling sale, going to $925,000 to acquire a colt by Twirling Candy (hip 2555) from the Paramount Sales consignment Tuesday. Bred by Alice Bamford and Highfield Investment Group, the yearling is out of stakes-placed Hiking (First Defence). Pin Oak has now purchased 19 yearlings at the auction for a total of $8,835,000.

LEXINGTON, KY - The Keeneland September Yearling Sale continued to produce steady, competitive bidding as the 12-day auction's Book 3 section concluded Sunday in Lexington. A total of 562 yearlings sold during the two Book 3 sessions for a gross of $86,894,000. The Book 3 average was $152,251--down 4.0% from last year's corresponding figure--and the median fell 8.0% to $115,000. During last year's Book 3 section, 573 yearlings grossed $90,919,500 for an average of $158,673 and a median of $125,000. A colt by Constitution brought the section's top price when...

In a reprise of Monday's session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where Uncle Mo and Into Mischief had traded blows at the very top of the market and were together accountable for 10 of the top 11-priced yearlings, they served up an encore Wedesnday. Just minutes after Spendthrift's Into Mischief got his first seven-figure yearling Wednesday, Coolmore's Uncle Mo followed suit with a $1-million colt of his own. Hip 528, a Jan. 13 son of Flighty Almighty (GB) (Elusive Quality), was purchased by Pin Oak Stud's Jim and Dana...

Jim and Dana Bernhard, recent buyers of the 793-acre Pin Oak Stud near Versailles, KY, have acquired an additional 465 acres from Adena Springs, bringing the total size of the farm to just over 1,250 acres. The land, purchased from eight-time Eclipse Champion Breeder Adena Springs, connects the existing Pin Oak land on the east side of US-60--commonly known as Versailles Road--with an entrance on Old Frankfort Pike. "Frank Stronach's Adena Springs and Josephine Abercrombie's Pin Oak Stud are two legendary farms. Both were champion breeders focused on raising the...

Geaux Rocket Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}) and Arabian Knight (Uncle Mo), first and third in last month's GI Haskell S. at Monmouth, appear likely for a rematch in the Sept. 2 G1 FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic. Following his Haskell victory, trainer Richard Mandella indicated the Pacific Classic was possible for the Pin Oak Stud runner, however, upon returning to Del Mar, the Hall of Famer began considering the $125,000 Shared Belief S. instead. Facing older horses in the Classic, the sophomore would run against his own division in the Shared...

When Jim and Dana Bernhard purchased Pin Oak Stud last fall, the plan was always to return stallions to stand at the historic property and, while that idea may have been on the back burner before, the heat may be turned up a bit now after the couple's Geaux Rocket Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}) won the GI Haskell S. Saturday at Monmouth Park. "Jim and Dana Bernhard are on cloud nine," Pin Oak's Clifford Barry said Monday. "I think they can't believe it. I have spoken to them multiple times...

Pin Oak Stud's Geaux Rocket Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}) exited his victory in the GI TVG.com Haskell S. in good order, trainer Richard Mandella reported Sunday. The victory earned the lightly raced colt an automatic berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic and Mandella said he has several routes to consider to get to that Nov. 4 race at Santa Anita. The Sept. 23 GI Pennsylvania Derby at Parx, the Sept. 2 GI Pacific Classic at Del Mar and the Sept. 30 GI Awesome Again S. at Santa Anita are...

Joss Saville has joined Jim and Dana Bernhard's Pin Oak Stud team as farm trainer. Saville, who will be responsible for the breaking and pre-training of Pin Oak's young horses, has served as an assistant to GI Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Michael Matz for the last 12 years. "It was a really hard decision to leave Michael. He is a true horseman and I am grateful for all the knowledge he passed along to me," Saville said. "I consider myself very lucky to have spent so long working alongside him, his...

Pin Oak Stud's Empirestrikesfast (Empire Maker) has been added to the list of late Triple Crown nominations. The connections paid the $6,000 before Monday's deadline, but the colt's name was inadvertently omitted from the list of 12 others published Tuesday. Trained by Bill Mott, Empirestrikesfast broke his maiden in his first career start Mar. 11 at Gulfstream Park. In total, there are now 382 sophomores eligible to compete in the Triple Crown series.

With the 2023 season upon us, the TDN staff is once again sitting down with leading breeders to find out what stallions they have chosen for their mares, and why. Dana and Jim Bernhard purchased Pin Oak Stud just outside of Versailles, Kentucky late last year, inaugurating a new chapter in its storied history. Here is what Farm Manager Jeff Danford had to say about their broodmare band for 2023. BROADWAY LADY (m, 6, Constitution--Livi Makenzie) booked to Munnings This mare, purchased late last year, is a very attractive daughter...

3rd-Santa Anita, $67,500, Msw, 1-29, 3yo, 6f, 1:09.52, ft, 5 3/4 lengths. GEAUX ROCKET RIDE (c, 3, Candy Ride {Arg}--Beyond Grace, by Uncle Mo), a live firster after clocking a nice work back on Dec. 30 (5 furlongs, :59.60, 1/72) for the Mandella barn, was clearly ready on debut as he sprinted against five others receiving Lasix for the first time. Sent off at odds of 6-1, the $350,000 FTKJUL buy led from the rail, but was chased down the backstretch by heavy favorite Sonoran (Ride On Curlin) to the...

Former WinStar Farm broodmare manager Jeff Danford has been named farm manager at Pin Oak Stud near Versailles, Ky. The farm was sold earlier this year to Jim and Dana Bernhard after the passing of Josephine Abercrombie this January. "Leaving WinStar was a difficult decision and I want to thank Kenny and Lisa Troutt for all they have done for me over the past nine years," said Danford. "I am excited about this new opportunity and am thankful to Jim and Dana Bernhard for trusting me with the duties at...