By Alan Carasso
Juddmonte Farms' outstanding young sire Frankel (GB) was represented by his first South American winner when the American-bred Bertolina Fran, owned and bred by the Don Alberto Corporation, proved 1 1/2 lengths too strong for a group of juvenile fillies in Friday's fifth race from Club Hipico in Santiago, Chile.
Drawn gate nine in a field of 13 and sent off the 23-10 betting favorite on debut, the chestnut, foaled in Kentucky on Southern Hemisphere time Aug. 17, 2014, jumped on terms and raced prominently for the opening 600 meters. Driven along while well away from the inside over a rain-affected surface, she was overtaken to her outside entering the final furlong, but switched leads and was doing her best work late (video).
Bertolina Fran is out of Burren Trail (Ire) (Shamardal), a full-sister to Grade III winner Oregon Lady (Ire), while third dam Oscillate (Seattle Slew) is responsible for successful dual-hemisphere sire Mutakddim (Seeking the Gold). Burren Trail is the dam of a Malibu Moon filly foaled on Southern Hemisphere time Aug. 11, 2015 that has since been sent to Chile, was given the following breeding season off and produced a filly by Empire Maker this past Feb. 9. With the victory, Frankel has been represented by 42 individual winners in seven different countries (U.S., England, France, Ireland, Germany, Japan, Chile) and runners in Australia, Argentina and South Africa.
Don Alberto Corporation, who campaigns leading 3-year-old filly and 'TDN Rising Star' Unique Bella (Tapit), also own and bred Rubilinda, named a 'Rising Star' off a stunning debut victory at Belmont Park May 27 (video) and who runs next in the $100,000 Wild Applause S. June 24, per Don Alberto's Fernando Diaz-Valdes. Don Alberto also races Frankel's Group 3-winning son Cunco (GB), who is expected to continue his career in the U.S. later this summer.
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