Bentornato and Irad Ortiz Jr. | Sarah Andrew
Leon King Stable’s Bentornato (Valiant Minister) put in a half-mile breeze Saturday ahead of an expected next start in the GI Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint Nov. 1 at Del Mar.
Working under regular pilot Irad Ortiz Jr., last year’s Sprint runner up went in :50.80.
Bentornato will also be a part of the Keeneland Championship Sale held just prior to the Breeders’ Cup, with a 25% ownership interest on offer Oct. 29 at Del Mar. Trainer Jose D’Angelo noted that Bentornato’s past and future racing schedule will appeal to buyers at the Championship Sale.
“It is a unique opportunity to become a partner,” D’Angelo told Keeneland. “This year we gave him time off to mature and grow. He is fresh and a good candidate to win the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. And he will be fresh if we decide to go to the $20 million G1 Saudi Cup.”
D’Angelo was pleased with Bentornato’s activity Saturday morning.
“The work was good with a strong gallop out like we had talked about,” he added. “He started slow and relaxed like he did in his last race (when he won the Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes at Churchill Downs Sept. 13.)
Rather than sending Bentornato back to his Florida base, D’Angelo opted to keep him in Kentucky to take advantage of the cooler weather and train at Keeneland. He will ship to Del Mar Oct. 27 ahead of the Championship Sale.
“We thought the (cool) weather would help him instead of going straight to California or back to (my base) in Florida,” he said.
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