Processing conflicting emotions is something Dana Bernhard and her son, Ben, of Pin Oak Stud are currently navigating. They are looking forward to participating in their first Kentucky Derby (G1) with Albus and Incredibolt, but heavy layers of grief are also cutting into that anticipation.
Their worlds turned upside down with the devastating loss of Jim Bernhard, Dana's husband and Ben's father, who died unexpectedly, Nov. 16, at 71.
Jim Bernhard, a respected and successful Louisiana businessman and philanthropist, approached his life with zeal, both Dana and Ben said. He was keen on creating community and putting people first, both in business and his personal life. He carried that mindset over to the family's Thoroughbred interests, where the welfare of the horse has become a cornerstone of the Pin Oak operation.
Jim and Dana first became Thoroughbred owners in 2021 at Fasig-Tipton's The July Sale where Jim bought a $350,000 colt by Candy Ride as a birthday gift for his wife. That colt became grade 1 winner Geaux Rocket Ride under the guidance of Hall of Famer Richard Mandella and propelled the Bernhards from racehorse owners to farm owners by November 2022 when they bought Pin Oak Stud, the iconic breeding and racing operation formerly owned by the late Josephine Abercrombie, near Versailles, Ky.
In a June 2024 BloodHorse magazine feature on the Bernhards, Jim remarked, "We may not be the biggest, but we want to be the best horse farm, the best racing company in the country. At the end of the day, we want others to say, 'We want to be like Pin Oak, look how much fun they're having.' To me, that's successful."
As the Run for the Roses approaches, Dana and Ben are accustomed to having the spotlight on them. Even though Albus and Incredibolt will be longshots for the race's 152nd running, the poignant elements associated with the Bernhards' participation has made it a popular storyline.
With that comes questions on how mother and son are coping with the enormous void in their lives, particularly when they know how much the family's patriarch would be relishing this moment.
"We've been getting asked about this a lot, and I know the questions are coming, so I try to think hard about the words that would do justice to the feelings and justice to him, and it's just really impossible," Ben said.
Dana, who was married to Jim for 32 years, said, "You know, every day for me is filled with grief, and having the two horses in the Derby does not change that grief a bit, but it is beautiful that it has happened.
"And I know Jim is with us in spirit every day. But, you know, it's still a very sad time for me, but we are very happy about Albus and Incredibolt, and the opportunity of the Derby."
Jim Bernhard was alive to see both Albus and Incredibolt launch their careers. They were both bought by Pin Oak at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and are conditioned by Riley Mott, who will also be participating in his first Derby Saturday.
The Bernhards met Mott, who has been training on his own since November 2022, through his Hall of Fame father, Bill, who also conditions horses for the family.
Dana remembers an evening when she and Jim had a conversation with the younger Mott who, at the time, was still one of his father's assistants.
"I'll never forget the evening, we spoke with Riley and his wife, Megan, at length, up on the balcony at the Saratoga auction. We had the loveliest conversation with them, and talked about his plans and how he foresaw going out on his own. And, after that conversation, Jim and I looked at each other and we said, 'We are giving Riley horses.'
"Riley is such a fine person and man, and so we were excited about giving him the opportunity, and we thought he would do a fabulous job with our horses."
Incredibolt, a dark bay or brown son of Bolt d'Oro with ears typically standing at attention, was a $75,000 yearling. He won a Churchill Downs maiden special weight in his second career start in September and followed that performance by winning the Oct. 26 Street Sense Stakes (G3), just a few weeks before Bernhard died.
After finishing sixth in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) to begin his 3-year-old campaign, Incredibolt won the $506,000 Virginia Derby March 14 at Colonial Downs in a 4-length romp over nine rivals. Both the Street Sense and Virginia Derby are races that offer qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Albus, a dark bay or brown son of Yaupon with a smidgen of white on his forehead, is a late bloomer. The $320,000 yearling raced twice at 2, but didn't visit the winner's circle until his 3-year-old debut after clobbering a Feb. 27 maiden special weight field at Tampa Bay Downs. Mott used that effort as a springboard to the $750,000 Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack. On that gray and misty April 4 afternoon, Albus was a 1 1/4-length winner over 11 others in what was the last Wood Memorial to be run at the Big A.
Albus received his name from a popular book series.
"The name was inspired by the quote from (Albus) Dumbledore in one of the Harry Potter books," Ben explained. "The quote, 'It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.' The mare's name is Adream, so that's sort of the connection to the quote."
In the spirit of the Dumbledore quote, the Bernhards are eager to embrace the excitement of Derby Day.
"(My father) was very excited about Incredibolt being on the Derby trail (after the Street Sense win)," Ben said. "I think he fully expected him to win the Derby. He would want us to be having so much fun and enjoying it, because that's how he was. He enjoyed race days more than anyone."
Dana concurred.
"He fully embraced every race," she said. "He would just be so happy right now. He would be shouting from the rooftops."
