California Sire Bertrando Pensioned

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Bertrando, a champion on the racetrack and a leading California sire, has been retired from stud duty after standing in 2011 at Don Cohn’s Ballena Vista Farm near Ramona, Calif. The 22-year-old son of Skywalker out of the Buffalo Lark mare Gentle Hands will reside at Martin and Pam Wygod’s River Edge Farm near Buellton, Calif., where he formerly stood.

At stud Bertrando was owned by a syndicate that included Martin Wygod, Ballena Vista, Ed Nahem, and Marsha Naify.

Bred in California by Nahem, Bertrando earned a 1993 Eclipse Award as outstanding older male for Nahem and 505 Farms, owned by Naify’s father, Marshall Naify. A 4-year-old that year, Bertrando won the Woodward Stakes (gr. I), the Pacific Classic Stakes (gr. I) in track-record time, and the San Fernando Stakes (gr. II), and placed in five grade I stakes, including the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Two years earlier, Bertrando had won the Norfolk Stakes (gr. I) and the Del Mar Futurity (gr. II) and finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I), made famous by Arazi’s electrifying run approaching the stretch.

Bertrando entered stud at River Edge in 1995 with a record of 15 top-two finishes from 24 starts and earnings of $3,185,610. He had won or placed in 15 grade I or grade II stakes.

As a stallion Bertrando has sired 494 winners from 714 starters, 108 stakes horses, and the earners of more than $40.8 million. His 53 stakes winners include grade I winners Officer, Karelian, Unfurl the Flag, and Bilo.

The last two named captured the Triple Bend Invitational Handicap (gr. I) at Hollywood Park. Bertrando is represented by grade II winners Smooth Player, Liberian Freighter, Queenie Belle, Sierra Sunset, and Scholars Studio.

“I am glad that Bertrando is coming home to spend the rest of his days with us,” said Russell Drake, farm manager of River Edge. “He was a great sire that provided River Edge with many stakes winners. He remains one of my favorite horses of all time because of his wonderful demeanor and his productivity.”