French Beret earns his stripes in Colonel Bradley

Last updated: 1/12/08 7:58 PM

French Beret turned back all rivals in the Bradley
(Lou Hodges Jr. Photo)

Sam-Son Farms’ homebred FRENCH BERET (Broad Brush) rallied to the lead
leaving the far turn and was never seriously threatened through the stretch
drive in Saturday’s
$100,000

Colonel E.R. Bradley H. (G3), notching his first graded stakes win
with a 1 3/4-length decision over the good turf at Fair Grounds. James Graham
picked up the mount aboard the Mike Frostad-trained gelding, and French Beret
completed about 1 1/16 miles in 1:45 4/5.

Sent off the 11-1 seventh choice in the nine-horse field, French Beret
stalked in third as Save Big Money (Storm Cat) and Optimer (Arg) (Incurable
Optimist) dueled through opening splits in :24 4/5, :50 4/5 and 1:15 2/5. The
five-year-old opened a clear lead in midstretch as longshot Major Rhythm
(Rhythm) could not go with him, but the 29-1 outsider fought determinedly to
edge 9-5 favorite Sterwins (Runaway Groom) by a nose for second. It was only a
head back to Save Big Money in fourth, and he was followed under the wire by
Storm Treasure (Storm Boot), Sidcup (Running Stag), Silverfoot (With Approval),
Gold Sound (Fr) (Green Tune) and Optimer. Got the Last Laugh (Distorted Humor)
and Prom Shoes (Include) were scratched.

The winner paid $24.60, $12.60 and $6, keying a $642.40 exacta. Major Rhythm
gave back $20.10 and $9.60, and Sterwins was worth $3. The trifecta totaled
$1,927.20, and the 9-5-4-8 superfecta $19,250.

Bred in Canada, French Beret is the first registered foal out the stakes-winning Misty
Mission (Miswaki) and counts the unraced sophomore colt Cross Every Bridge
(Giant’s Causeway) and an unnamed yearling colt by El Prado (Ire) as
half-brothers. His granddam is 1987 Breeders’ S. winner and Prince of Wales S.
runner-up Hangin on a Star (Vice Regent), a three-time stakes heroine who is
also the dam of Canadian champion Comet Shine (Fappiano) and multiple Grade 2
runner-up Sky Colony (Pleasant Colony).

French Beret captured the 2006 Toronto
Cup S. and has placed in six black-type events, including the 2006 Breeders’ S. The bay has now earned $385,646
from a 22-3-4-7 line.