BY BROCK SHERIDAN
DEL MAR, CA—Florida-bred Bentornato comes into the $2 million Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint (Grade 1) off a strong, winning effort in the Grade 2 Gallant Bob and trainer Jose D’Angelo says he has been doing everything right since. The $2 million Sprint attracted a field of 11 3-year-olds and older going six furlongs, including fellow Florida-bred Federal Judge.
“We galloped today and went to the gate and he behaved pretty good and that is super important,” D’Angelo said at his barn at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club Tuesday morning. “We are in a sprint race and we have to break as best as we can. He did pretty good though so I’m happy with him.
After winning his first four career starts last year, including the $100,000 Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association Florida Sire Stakes Dr. Fager and $200,000 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes Affirmed, Bentornato finished his 2-year-old year in December with a third behind winner Seminole Chief in the $300,000 In Reality, the third and final leg of the Florida Sire Stakes at a mile-and-a-sixteenth.
Bentornato started his sophomore campaign in February, finishing third behind winner Forever Young (Jpn), who is the 6-1 third choice on the morning line for Saturday’s $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).
“He’s gutsy. In Saudi Arabia he looked like he was a winner too,” D’Angelo said. “He puts his heart in every race he runs. You’re lucky when you have a horse who has a good heart.
“He really came back from Saudi pretty good. We gave him some rest because he had a huge 2-year-old campaign going through the Florida Sire Stakes series.”
Bentornato drew post six for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint and D’Angelo said he believes the draw should be beneficial after breaking from post one in the Gallant Bob.
“I’m very happy with the post position because we’re in the middle,” D’Angelo said. “Last time [in the Gallant Bob] we were on the inside, so we had to break and go and we didn’t have an option. He resisted the pressure all through the race and go it done. Now we can break [in the Sprint] and make our decision.
“He’s fast, really fast and he likes the speed. But he’s racing against the fastest horses in the country. So we just have to break good and see what happens. For sure, [the Sprint] is a tough race, especially as a 3-year-old taking on older [horses], but I’m sure that he’s going to be on his best form.”
Bentornato worked four furlongs in :49.20 at Del Mar Saturday, which was the fourth fastest of seven that morning. However, D’Angelo said he wasn’t looking for a fast time from the son of Bridlewood Farm stallion Valiant Minister.
“I was happy with the work,” D’Angelo said. “You know, when you travel with horses, more than training them, you have to make sure they’re happy and ready. We prepped him very well at Palm Meadows and he was ready from there. We just have to make sure he’s happy.
“He’s a good traveler. He went to Saudi Arabia and he did pretty good. He handled the track there and everywhere he’s been – so that easy for him.”
Bentornato is 30-1 on the morning line for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint and he will be ridden by Luis Saez. Bred in Florida by Tanma Corp., Bentornato is out of Her Special Way, by Put it Back. He has won five of his eight career starts with a second and two thirds while banking $791,830 for owner Angel Lozano and his Leon King Stable Corp.
He is a graduate of the 2023 Ocala Breeders’ Sales March Sale where Champion Equine purchased him for $170,000 from the Golden Rock Thoroughbreds consignment. Lozano and D’Angelo said they are lucky to have him.
“We were the under bidder on him at the sale and I really wanted him,” D’Angelo said. “We left Ocala thinking we didn’t get him. But the original buyer turned him back, so OBS called us and asked if we still wanted him. I said, ‘of course.’
“His name, Bentornato, is Italian for welcome back. We thought that we were going to buy him originally at the sale. But we were very happy to welcome him back into our barn.”
Bentornato was last seen winning the Grade 2 Gallant Bob at Parx for owner Leon King Stable Corp. and trainer Jose D’Angelo. He has five wins with a second and two thirds in eight career starts with lifetime earnings of $791,830.
