West Point Thoroughbreds’, Robert Masiello’s, and Three C Stable’s Berned made a scintillating last to first move to win the $100,000 Safely Kept Stakes over the weekend at Laurel.

Feargal Lynch rode the filly patiently and perfectly, letting her see the entire field down the backstretch before pressing go, making a sweeping move on the turn, and drawing away by over four lengths. Berned has never been off the board in a one-turn race and has found her niche as a closing sprinter.

West Point Thoroughbreds’, Robert Masiello’s, and Three C Stable’s Berned made a scintillating last to first move to win the $100,000 Safely Kept Stakes over the weekend at Laurel.

Feargal Lynch rode the filly patiently and perfectly, letting her see the entire field down the backstretch before pressing go, making a sweeping move on the turn, and drawing away by over four lengths. Berned has never been off the board in a one-turn race and has found her niche as a closing sprinter.

The 3-year-old daughter of Bernardini put in one of the top efforts from a 3-year-old filly on the dirt all year. The cut back to seven furlongs and long stretch were key after she’d been going two turns all year. The decision to skip the Raven Run Stakes at Keeneland also proved wise, as the top two finishers in that race were 1-2 at first call.

“Berned always trained like a two-turn filly, but I think we’ve found out once and for all what she really wants to do,” said trainer Graham Motion. “Her works have never been terribly flashy in the mornings, but she’s a bigger, stronger filly even since the summer when she was running in those tough spots in Saratoga.”

Berned is now under consideration for the $300,000 La Brea Stakes (G1) run on December 26 at Santa Anita.