Bertinelli Latest Winner For Justify

Justify’s worldwide success continued on Friday when Bertinelli (2c Justify x Together Forever, by Galileo) broke his maiden at Dundalk in Ireland.

Making his second career start, the colt was among the front runners from the start of the one-mile race as he shadowed the leaders. When Seamie Heffernan asked him for more, Bertinelli responded and took over the lead in the final furlong. He had to face a challenge for the lead late but was able to stay in front, winning by a neck in the end.

“I'm a huge fan of the Justifys. [Bertinell’s] very weak and he still has the ability to run well and win,” Heffernan told Irishracing.com. “I think he's got a lot of potential. If he hadn't got struck into behind, I suspect he would have been very impressive.”

Bred by Orpendale, Chelston, and Wynatt, the juvenile is trained by Aidan O’Brien for the Coolmore partners and Westerberg.

Bertinelli is out of the Grade I winning Together Forever, the dam of multiple group winner Military Style and two other stakes performers. Together Forever is a full sister to Group I Epsom Oaks winner Forever Together and stakes placed Do You Love Me and is a half-sister to Group I winner Lord Shanakill. This is also the family of Grade I winners Spanish Fern, Hearts of Fire, and Heatseeker.

Together Forever also had a Justify colt last year and an Uncle Mo filly in 2022.

Justify’s 23 winners is second best among all U.S. freshmen while his four stakes winners, three graded stakes winners, five graded stakes performers, and one Grade I performer are all the best of his crop.