D'Angelo is 'very confident' in BC Sprint contender Bentornato

Grade 2 winner Bentornato, who began his career with four straight victories at Gulfstream in 2023, continues to train forwardly for a planned return trip to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

Though primarily based at Gulfstream, trainer Jose D’Angelo maintains a string at Keeneland where the 4-year-old Bentornato blazed through a five-furlong work in 1:00 Saturday, the fastest of 24 horses.

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“He worked amazing,” D’Angelo said. “We worked him in company with (maiden 3-year-old) Araucano and I was very pleased with the workout. I saw everything I was looking for. We are ready for the Breeders’ Cup.”

Bred in Florida by Tanma Corp. and owned by Leon King Stable, Bentornato ran second to eventual champion Straight No Chaser in last fall’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint, beaten a half-length. He has raced just once since, winning the Louisville Thoroughbred Society by 5 3/4 lengths in his Sept. 13 comeback.

“I’m very confident in him. This was the plan. He was training for three or four months pointing to the race that he ran and now the Breeders’ Cup, so we are good,” D’Angelo said. “He’s a maturing horse. He’s grown.

“The most important thing is we teach him to sit behind horses, relax and make his move. That’s what we are looking for in the Breeders’ Cup, too,”  he added. “He can be in front pretty easy because he’s good and fast, but he doesn’t necessarily have to be there like last year.”

During his career-opening streak Bentornato won the Proud Man and Dr. Fager and Affirmed divisions of the Florida Sire Stakes series in before being denied a sweep when third in the FSS In Reality to cap his juvenile campaign. Last year he ran third in the Saudi Derby (G3), second in the Robert Hilton Memorial and won the Gallant Bob (G2) prior to the Breeders’ Cup.

The six-furlong Breeders' Cup Sprint is Nov. 1 at Del Mar, which also hosted last year’s Breeders’ Cup.

“He’ll have one more work, an easy work next weekend at Keeneland, and ship out on the 27th,” said D’Angelo, who is also pointing multiple graded-stakes winner Shisospicy to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

Morplay Racing and Qatar Racing, Ltd.’s Shisospicy graduated in debut last October at Gulfstream Park and has won four of six starts this year including the Music City (G2) and Mamzelle (G3). The 3-year-old filly most recently breezed four furlongs in 47.40 seconds Oct. 15 at Keeneland.

“It’s going to be tough, but we are super excited,” D’Angelo said.