Bernardini in a Jim Dandy blowout; Minister's Bid second

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) An Oklahoma-owned horse finishes a distant second as Bernardini blows away the field in the Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in New York. <br/><br/>In his first start

Monday, July 31st 2006, 5:38 am

By: News On 6

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) An Oklahoma-owned horse finishes a distant second as Bernardini blows away the field in the Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in New York.

In his first start since winning the Preakness Stakes on May 20th, the race everyone remembers as the one in which Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro shattered his right hind leg, Bernardini put on another dazzling performance.

Bernardini took the lead yesterday around the first turn and glided through the slop to a nine length victory over previously undefeated Minister's Bid, a horse owned by Tulsa oilman John Oxley.

With his fourth victory in five starts, Bernardini has to be considered the nation's leading 3 year old and a contender for Horse of the Year honors.

The winning time for the 1 and one-eighth miles over a sloppy track was 1 minute, 50 point 5 seconds.

Hemingway's Key was third, a head behind Minister's Bid, followed by another Oxley owned horse, Dr. Pleasure. Oh So Awesome and Sunriver rounded out the field.