Jim and Dana Bernhard

Riley Mott, the son of Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, has come a long way in the 3 1/2 years he has been training on his own. He's already won more than 100 races and collected a pair of Grade I wins, including World Beater (Oscar Performance)'s score in last year's GI Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes. And now it looks like he'll have a starter in this year's GI Kentucky Derby. In winning the Virginia Derby, the Mott-trained Incredibolt (Bolt d'Oro) earned enough points to guarantee himself a spot in...

From his earliest lessons at Pin Oak Stud, Incredibolt (Bolt d'Oro) has handled everything asked of him with ease. Now, his team is hoping that trend continues in the GIII Holy Bull Stakes. Pin Oak's Director of Farm Operations and Property Michael Hardy said that the GIII Street Sense Stakes winner has not missed a beat since his win at Churchill Downs. Following a brief layoff on the farm, the Riley Mott trainee moved to Palm Meadows and has put in a series of six weekly drills, including a bullet...

Founded by Josephine Abercrombie in 1952, Pin Oak Stud has entered a new era under the ownership of Jim and Dana Bernhard. The Bernhards purchased Pin Oak Stud in November of 2022 and acquired an additional 465 acres from Adena Springs in September of 2023. "Pin Oak has always strived to breed horses that can compete at the pinnacle of our sport, this vision begins with the decisions that we make when selecting our matings each year," Pin Oak's Michael Hardy said. "Our team works in close collaboration, carefully selecting...

by Jessica Martini and Christina Bossinakis LEXINGTON, KY -- The momentum which began with a competitive Book 1 section rolled into Book 2 with a trio of yearlings bringing seven figures and continued increases over last year during the third session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in Lexington Wednesday. "We saw the same kind of momentum and trends just rolling over," said Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy. "There was a great positivity around the grounds. Consignors were invariably very pleased. And buyers found it tough and a...

Michael Hardy, the former Head of Sales for Goffs and general manager of Margaux Farm near Lexington, has been appointed as the new director of farm operations and property at Jim and Dana Bernhard's Pin Oak Stud, officials at the nursery announced Monday. Born into a racing family in Northern Ireland, Hardy gained early experience on his family's stud farm before completing a degree in Equine Science at the University of Limerick. He was a participant in the Irish National Stud's Management Course in addition to the Godolphin Flying Start...

The TDN's popular annual series 'Mating Plans, presented by Spendthrift,' continues today in a conversation with Pin Oak Stud's Clifford Barry "Planning matings is always fun, putting all the tools you have available to make the best decision for your mare in hope of breeding the next champion," said Barry, a long-time advisor to the late Josephine Abercrombie and now serving the farm's current owners, Jim and Dana Bernhard. "As a team, we sit around the table and make the best decisions we can to help our mares achieve the...

A colt by Twirling Candy broke clear of the pack when selling for $925,000 to Jim and Dana Bernhard's Pin Oak Stud during an otherwise steadily consistent conclusion to the Book 4 section of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale Tuesday in Lexington. Through both sessions of Book 4, Keeneland sold 606 yearlings for $46,078,000. The book average of $76,036 declined 5.0% from last year, while the median dipped 8.3% to $55,000. During last year's Book 4 section, 609 yearlings sold for $48,726,500. The section's average was $80,011 and the median...

Jim and Dana Bernhard's Pin Oak Stud continued its buying spree at the Keeneland September Yearling sale, going to $925,000 to acquire a colt by Twirling Candy (hip 2555) from the Paramount Sales consignment Tuesday. Bred by Alice Bamford and Highfield Investment Group, the yearling is out of stakes-placed Hiking (First Defence). Pin Oak has now purchased 19 yearlings at the auction for a total of $8,835,000.

By Jessica Martini & Christina Bossinakis LEXINGTON, KY - The Keeneland September Yearling Sale's first Book 2 session continued right on from where the auction's elite Book 1 section concluded, producing strong results largely in line with last year's record-setting renewal. During Wednesday's session, 209 yearlings sold for $64,024,000. The session average of $306,335 and the median was $255,000. During last year's Book 2 opener, 219 head grossed $66,695,000 for an average of $304,543 and a median of $250,000. With 83 horses reported not sold, the buy-back rate was 28.42%....

In a reprise of Monday's session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where Uncle Mo and Into Mischief had traded blows at the very top of the market and were together accountable for 10 of the top 11-priced yearlings, they served up an encore Wedesnday. Just minutes after Spendthrift's Into Mischief got his first seven-figure yearling Wednesday, Coolmore's Uncle Mo followed suit with a $1-million colt of his own. Hip 528, a Jan. 13 son of Flighty Almighty (GB) (Elusive Quality), was purchased by Pin Oak Stud's Jim and Dana...

When Jim and Dana Bernhard purchased Pin Oak Stud last fall, the plan was always to return stallions to stand at the historic property and, while that idea may have been on the back burner before, the heat may be turned up a bit now after the couple's Geaux Rocket Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}) won the GI Haskell S. Saturday at Monmouth Park. "Jim and Dana Bernhard are on cloud nine," Pin Oak's Clifford Barry said Monday. "I think they can't believe it. I have spoken to them multiple times...

Joss Saville has joined Jim and Dana Bernhard's Pin Oak Stud team as farm trainer. Saville, who will be responsible for the breaking and pre-training of Pin Oak's young horses, has served as an assistant to GI Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Michael Matz for the last 12 years. "It was a really hard decision to leave Michael. He is a true horseman and I am grateful for all the knowledge he passed along to me," Saville said. "I consider myself very lucky to have spent so long working alongside him, his...