Preakness Contender Stradivari Looks Like 2006 Winner

Bernardini was the colt, and while it's certainly worth noting that the race was marred by the tragic breakdown of the unbeaten Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, Bernardini couldn't have been more impressive in victory. Bernardini went on to win the Travers and Jockey Club Gold Cup en route to winning an Eclipse Award and stamping himself as one of the most talented three year-old colts of the decade. 2016 Preakness contender Stradivari has some monumental work to do to be mentioned in the same breath as Bernardini, but heading into the race, the two colt's have eerily similar credentials. 

Feeling the Bern

Like Bernardini, Stradivari is a well-bred colt whose name ends with an "i." Putting the trivial aside, Stradivari enters the Preakness with just three career starts like Bernardini, posting brilliant wins in his last two, mirroring the elder's resmue to perfection. Both colts were beaten in their debut, each finishing fourth in sprint races before being stretched out in their next starts. Bernardini did win the Grade 3 Withers in his third start, however, while Stradivari settled for an allowance win in his. That minor difference would, perhaps be more noteworthy had Stradivari not won so impresively, smashing his rivals in a mile and an eighth allowance April 17 at Keeneland by 11 lengths. 

Following the blueprint

Despite Nyquist's impeccable credentials, contrarian players should not shy away from Stradivari's inexperience should they deem his talent sufficient to compete with the Derby winner. Bernardini's coming out party in the 2006 Preakness can be viewed as the model Stradivari is trying to follow.