D’Angelo caps strong 2024 with Bentornato, Twirling Queen
Trainer José D’Angelo, who finds himself among the top dozen trainers in the U.S. and Canada in wins this year, will spend the holiday week going coast to coast.
On Thursday, D’Angelo will saddle Breeders’ Cup Sprint runner-up and Grade 2 winner Bentornato against seven others 3-year-olds, including Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan, in the $300,000 Malibu (G1) on Santa Anita’s opening day.
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D’Angelo returns to his homebase at Gulfstream Park on Saturday to saddle turf star Twirling Queen in the $115,000 Abundantia Stakes.
“Exciting,” D’Angelo said about this week.
That is also the word to describe Twirling Queen. Since getting the 3-year-old filly in his barn last winter, the daughter of Twirling Queen owned by Gu Racing has won five of her six starts and is undefeated in three trips on the turf. D’Angelo is hoping to keep that streak alive in the five-furlong Abundantia.
Twirling Queen began her career with four consecutive races in the Midwest on main tracks before being sent to D’Angelo for last year’s Gulfstream championship meet.
“Since I got her, I knew she had talent, because she won her first race at Churchill Downs, and that’s not easy at Churchill Downs,” D’Angelo said. “I tried to watch her train in the morning, and she went really good when we tried her on the turf.”
After winning her first two starts across the Tapeta surface at Gulfstream including the Melody of Colors in March, Twirling Queen hit the road. She won the Mamzelle Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 11 and the Coronation Cup in July at Saratoga before finishing ninth in the Raven Run (G2) over the main track at Keeneland. She returned to turf in November with a victory at Del Mar in the Senator Ken Maddy.
“We gave her a little rest after the Del Mar race,” D’Angelo said. “I’m not crazy about the post (12), but she’s doing well, and we’re looking forward to the race.”
The 11 entered against Twilight Queen include Mrs. Gambolini, Inaboutago and Karaya.
Mrs. Gambolini has been a winner in 2 of 3 starts for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., including her last on the Gulfstream turf course by 4 3/4 lengths. Inaboutago has won 3 of 4 on turf for trainer Wesley Ward. Karaya, a winner at Gulfstream last time on Tapeta, has Irad Ortiz Jr. named to ride.
Saturday’s Gulfstream program also includes the $165,000 Mr. Prospector. The field of 12 includes 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic and 2022 Florida Derby (G1) winner White Abarrio, who will use the seven-furlong race as a prep for the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational on Jan. 25 over the same track.