1989 stallion Bertrando was named for Bertrand Hug, proprietor of the Mille Fleur restaurant in San Diego County. He was a lengthy dark bay horse standing 16.2 hands, Bertrando had an excellent shoulder and powerful hindquarters but did not have the best of knees. He was very quick out of the gate and could not be taken off the lead, although he would rate along well if not pressured and was not speed-crazy. He loved off going and moved up markedly in the slop from his fast-track form. As a racehorse, he was honest and courageous and was probably best at 9 furlongs. A respiratory virus kept him on the sidelines for most of his 3-year-old season, and he never regained quite the same form after undergoing surgery for a knee chip after his 4-year-old season. Those who knew him well described him as being highly intelligent and quick to learn. Bertrando was limited by his one-dimensional front-running style, but he had plenty of speed and the courage to go with it when hooked. Bred in California by Ed Nahem, Bertrando began his racing career for the partnership of Nahem, 505 Farms (Marshall Naify), and 15-year-old Gus Headley, the son of the colt’s trainer Bruce Headley; after his second race, Gus Headley was bought out by the other partners. Late in his 3-year-old year, he was moved to the barn of Bobby Frankel. He was trained by Gary L. Stevens. He ran a 24;9-6-2 record, winning $3,185,610. In 1991 Bertrando won Norfolk Stakes (G1) and Del Mar Futurity (G2). In 1992 he won the San Felipe Stakes (G2). In 1993 he won the Pacific Classic Stakes (G1, new track record 1:59 2/5), Woodward Stakes (G1), and San Fernando Stakes (G2). In 1994 he won the Goodwood Handicap (G2) and Wickerr Stakes (USA-R). In 1991 Bertrando was crowned California-Bred Champion 2 Year Old Male. In 1992 he won California-Bred champion 3 Year Old Male. In 1993 he won an Eclipse Award for American Champion Older Male and was also titled California-Bred Horse of the Year and California-Bred Champion Older Male. Bertrando’s earnings of $2,217,800 for 1993 was a single-season record for a California-bred horse. He was the first horse to run second in two different Breeders’ Cup events after Arazi and Arcangues ran the best races of their careers to down him in the 1991 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) and 1993 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), respectively. Following his knee surgery, Bertrando served a season at stud as a 5-year-old (remaining in light training while in breeding service) before returning to the races. Bobby Frankel refused to take the horse back into his barn after his having been used for breeding, and Bertrando was trained afterward by John Shirreffs.

As a stallion, Bertrando was characterized as “happy” and “a gentleman.” He entered stud in California in 1996 at River Edge Farm and stood there for his entire stud career. In 1999, Bertrando was stricken by a rare liver disease and had to undergo surgery to remove gallstones; a second such surgery took place in December 2003. The case was closely watched in veterinary medical annals due to the rarity of such disease in horses. In 2011 he was moved to Ballena Vista Farm to stand for a season. He was pensioned that same year and returned to River Edge Farm, where he died of natural causes in March 27, 2014. He was a useful regional sire in California. His offspring earned $48 million, siring multiple graded stakes winners. Bertrando led the California state sire list in 2005 and 2007.