Two West Point/Graham Motion runners found the winner’s circle on Saturday at Monmouth Park — Berned and Scholar Athlete.

Berned, a 3-year-old Bernardini filly, was making her first start for the Motion barn and her first start since finishing seventh in Starlet Stakes (G1) in December at Los Alamitos. She earned a career best 86 Beyer Speed Figure under jockey Antonio Gallardo. Gallardo rode her to a second place finish in the Tempted Stakes (G3) last fall at Aqueduct.

Two West Point/Graham Motion runners found the winner’s circle on Saturday at Monmouth Park — Berned and Scholar Athlete.

Berned, a 3-year-old Bernardini filly, was making her first start for the Motion barn and her first start since finishing seventh in Starlet Stakes (G1) in December at Los Alamitos. She earned a career best 86 Beyer Speed Figure under jockey Antonio Gallardo. Gallardo rode her to a second place finish in the Tempted Stakes (G3) last fall at Aqueduct.

“She got a little tired in her last work, and I thought there was a good chance she’d need the race,” said Motion. “I was pleasantly surprised to see her run so well. Antonio knows the filly, and she relaxed nicely for him. She really did well the past few weeks at Fair Hill after shipping up from Florida.”

Shortly after Berned got her picture taken, hard-knocking 4-year-old Scholar Athlete scored in his seasonal bow, a second level allowance on the turf. The son of Einstein had a busy 3-year-old season, competing in six stakes races. He won a tough Belmont allowance in May before running in two legs of the Canadian Triple Crown and finishing the year with a great effort in the Commonwealth Turf (G3) at Churchill Downs.

“He’s a really neat horse who rarely runs a bad race,” said West Point president Terry Finley. “After he ran in the fall at Churchill we decided to freshen him up and get ready for his 4-year-old season. He’s definitely grown and matured, and I think a mile to a mile and a sixteenth is his wheelhouse. When he gets comfortable and cruising on the lead, he’s dangerous.”

Scholar Athlete was purchased by the West Point buying team from breeder Adena Springs at the 2015 Fasig-Tipton 2-Year-Old in Training Sale held at Gulfstream Park.

Congratulations to our Partners who own these talented horses!