Bernardini out for Belmont

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Elmont, NY (Sports Network) - Preakness Stakes winner Bernardini will not start in the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 10. The announcement was made Wednesday by Jimmy Bell, the president of Darley USA.

Owned by the Darley Stable of Sheikh Mohammed, Bernardini has raced four times this year and won his first race in early March. Prior to winning the Preakness, the colt won the Withers Stakes at Aqueduct. His connections believe that the three-year-old deserves rest after his three straight wins.

Trained by Tom Albertrani, Bernardini has earned more than $760,000 in his short career. He was ridden in the Preakness by Javier Castellano.

The running of this year's Preakness was marred by the injury to Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro. With Barbaro now retired from racing and the decision not to run Bernardini in the Belmont Stakes, thoroughbred racing will have three different winners in the three Triple Crown races for the first time since 2000.

In 2000, Fusaichi Pegasus won the Kentucky Derby and Red Bullet captured the Preakness Stakes. Neither horse ran in the Belmont Stakes that year, which was won by Commendable.

Five horses that are confirmed for the Belmont Stakes include Bluegrass Cat, Steppenwolfer, Bob and John, Jazil and Hemmingway's Key.