It was an emotional victory for the Klein family at Kentucky Downs Sept. 8 as Brilliant Berti became their first millionaire while winning the $1,498,350 Gun Runner Stakes.
Richard Klein is the son of Bert and Elaine Klein. Klein and his mother started racing horses together before Bert, a prominent banker, got started with his own operation that focused on claiming horses.
After merging and focusing on homebreds, the family saw great success with the likes of grade 1 winner Outofthebox, graded winners Allamerican Bertie, De Bertie, and Hurricane Bertie among others. Brilliant Berti, out of the Langfuhr mare Believe in Berti, reflects four generations owned and bred by the Klein Family.
BH+: Brilliant Berti: Klein Family's First Millionaire
"I made a stop before I came down here to the cemetery to let my parents both know that Berti's running today and hopefully they could be a part of it and ride with him down the stretch," Klein said. "They were a big part of it today."
Settling in mid-pack through the early stages, jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. sat a perfect trip while Drunk On Sake set quick fractions of :22.83, :44.85, and 1:08.94.
Rallying boldy in the quarter-mile long stretch, Brilliant Berti repelled the rail challenge of Herchee, winning by a length in 1:33.42 for the mile. Three-time graded stakes winner Neat finished third.
In his prior start, Brilliant Berti had finished second to grade 1 winner Trikari in the Aug. 11 Secretariat (G2T) at Colonial Downs. Both Klein and trainer Cherie DeVaux's assistant Darrin Williams agreed that the slower pace that day impacted his chances.
"It didn't help his style because it was more speed-biased," Klein said. "I wouldn't trade this horse for anybody. I think he belongs with the top 3-year-old turf horses."
"I would like to have another go at Trikari," Williams said confidently. "I sure wouldn't argue with a rematch, but from what I heard I think maybe these two horses are going in different directions."
According to Klein, that direction would be the $600,000 Bryan Station (G3T) at Keeneland Oct. 26. Then the son of Noble Mission would likely receive a break entering his 4-year-old season with a target on the Turf Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day May 3.
Williams has had Brilliant Berti stabled under his care at Churchill throughout the summer and was overcome with joy at the big victory.
"The horse just does everything right for you and let's you train him the way he needs to be trained," Williams said. "We were confident in the horse, we just didn't know if we were confident in Kentucky Downs, but it all worked out."
Klein was more confident in running the colt at Kentucky Downs, given that he was broken as a yearling training up and down hills with Charlie and Amy LoPresti in Lexington.
Brilliant Berti paid $6.12 to win and now holds a record of 4-1-0 from six starts for earnings of $1,275,785.
Video: Global Tote Gun Runner S. (BT)
Tiztastic Takes Juvenile Mile on Short Rest
After winning a 6 1/2-furlong allowance on Kentucky Downs' opening day card Aug. 29, Tiztastic became the second horse this meet to take home two victories as he conquered West Beach by a neck in the $998,550 Juvenile Mile.
It was nothing new for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, who last year had attempted the same double with Aspenite. Aspenite had finished second in the opening day allowance while winning the Juvenile Mile a few days later.
"He's a better horse (than Aspenite)," Asmussen said of Tiztastic. "The similarities were there in the summer but I felt he was a little better."
The 2-year-old son of Tiz the Law finished fifth on debut over the dirt at Saratoga Race Course July 27 behind eventual Hopeful (G1) winner Chancer McPatrick. Switched to turf to take a shot at the lucrative purses, Asmussen sees the colt as a versatile member of his stable.
"He was very successful there (on the Kentucky Downs turf) but he's a horse that will do equally well on (dirt)," Asmussen said. "I think this horse will be better going further."
Crossing the wire in 1:34.53 for the mile, Tiztastic became the second stakes winner for first-crop sire Tiz the Law, who stood the 2024 season at Coolmore's Ashford Stud for $20,000. Coolmore's Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith own the colt in partnership with Winchell Thoroughbreds.
Video: Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile S. (BT)
Kilwin's Late Kick Proves Best in Untapable
Two-year-old fillies were also a focus of the Sunday card with two stakes. BBN Racing's Kilwin scored with a powerful stretch rally to close from eleventh to win by a half-length in the $998,550 Untapable Stakes.
Bred in Kentucky by Gilder-Schwarz Farm, Kilwin became the third stakes winner of the lucrative Kentucky Downs meet sired by Lane's End stallion Twirling Candy . In addition, she joined half-siblings One Timer (Trappe Shot) and Just Basking (Arrogate) as stakes winners out of the Blame mare Spanish Star.
"Some mare, what can you say?" said trainer Rusty Arnold. "(Kilwin) has been good since day one. Since the day she came in I really liked her. She's real athletic."
The pace set up her closing kick in the 6 1/2-furlong stakes. Behind fractions of :22.10 and :45.41, Kilwin got up in time to nail pace-setting Shezafunkydrummer en route to stopping the teletimer in 1:15.50 over a course rated firm. Abientot was third.
The victory beneath jockey Jose Lezcano paid $7.36 for the favorite.
Video: Untapable S. (BT)
Trainer Lee Earns Monumental, But Not Unfamiliar Victory in Juvenile Fillies
Although trainer Joseph Lee picked up the biggest win of his career with May Day Ready in the $997,200 Juvenile Fillies Stakes, he is no stranger to success.
Beginning a racing career in the 1980s, Lee was a longtime assistant for Godolphin. He took over his own stable in 2020 after Kiaran McLaughlin retired.
"I've worked for some of the best my whole life, around some of the best horses. I've been fortunate," Lee said. "This is my first million-dollar race under my name, but I actually saddled Godolphin's first grade 1 winner in Japan in 1995 (Heart Lake)."
Lee also saddled Frankie Dettori's 1,000th winner when Classic Cliche won the 1995 St. Ledger (G1) at Doncaster. Dettori was the pilot for May Day Ready Sunday.
Based at Belmont Park with just five horses, Lee almost didn't bring the daughter of Tapit to Kentucky Downs. However, after a discussion with owner KatieRich Stables, they decided to take a shot after she won her Aug. 4 debut at Saratoga despite being, according to Lee, only 85% fit.
She was convincing in the Kentucky Downs stretch, pulling away to 1 3/4-length win over Bellavinino and She's Got Will, paying $11.16 to win while stopping the clock in 1:35.36 for one mile.
"I loved her since probably her fourth or so public workout," Lee said. "I've been around some nice ones, and I just thought she was special."
