Coach Jose D’Angelo is having a good time once more at Del Mar.
He arrived in San Diego with two stable contenders for his or her respective Breeders’ Cup races: Shisospicy within the five-furlong Prevagen Turf Dash and Bentornato within the six-furlong Cygames Dash. Second to Straight No Chaser within the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Dash, Bentornato returns to Del Mar for D’Angelo with the winner’s circle of their sights, a victory that may fulfill one other dream the Venezuelan native has, goals that introduced him to the US in 2019.
“Breeders Cup, all these races, are the issues that we noticed on TV,” D’Angelo defined. “And I mentioned, ‘I hope someday to go there simply to look at.’ Now we’re competing right here.”
The son of Francisco D’Angelo, himself an award-winning coach in Venezuela, Jose D’Angelo had been profitable in his native nation, successful the Gran Premio Clásico Simón Bolívar, the nation’s most essential stakes, with Dreaming of Gold in 2014.
The Florida-based coach already has seen his share of alternatives on the highest ranges since shifting his shingle to America. He discovered success with former claimer Jesus’ Group in 2020. The son of Tapiture was a 3-year-old in the course of the COVID-changed Triple Crown season, ending third within the Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga, third within the Preakness Stakes, after which second to Knicks Go within the Breeders’ Cup Dust Mile. D’Angelo was briefly on the Kentucky Derby path with Sam F. Davis Stakes winner No Extra Time in 2024 and took Bentornato that yr to the Center East for the one-mile Saudi Derby. Third behind Eternally Younger, the Valiant Minister ridgeling subsequently returned to sprints, successful the six-furlong Gallant Bob at Parx Racing earlier than delivery west for his runner-up end behind Straight No Chaser.
Again for a second strive within the 2025 Dash, Bentornato has began solely as soon as since final yr’s Breeders’ Cup, a 5 ¼-length win within the Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes Sept. 13 at Churchill Downs. Even with the ten-month hole between begins, D’Angelo is assured that the colt is prepared for Saturday.
“We had been purported to run within the Malibu [Stakes] final yr, however we scratched him and gave him day without work. He obtained some bone bruises. After that, when he was coaching once more, he obtained a little bit splint that was bothering him,” D’Angelo mentioned. “I needed to prepare him from zero two occasions. I had go step-by-step to have him prepared for the Breeders Cup.”
With plans to take him again to Saudi Arabia within the spring, proprietor Angel Lozano, who races below the secure title Leon King Secure Corp., offered 25% fractional curiosity within the colt, who has earned $1,282,180, on the Keeneland Championship Sale at Del Mar Oct. 29. That share offered for $1 million to Michael and Jules Iavarone.
Iavarone’s involvement within the sport dates again to 2003, together with racing 2008 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Massive Brown.
“We’re actually excited,” Iavarone mentioned. “He’s a gorgeous horse – 17 fingers and actually super-fast. I’ve been making an attempt to get a horse with Jose ceaselessly, so he knew that I used to be on this horse.”
Bentornato has recorded 4 exercises since his victory at Churchill Downs, together with an Oct. 18 breeze at Keeneland, the place he went 5 furlongs in 1:00. The darkish bay colt appears primed for a sensational flip once more at Del Mar, with D’Angelo optimistic that his cost is able to run.
“I am very assured in him. He’s grown, matured. He is a unique horse,” the coach mentioned. “I am certain that positively he’s going to be robust on Saturday right here.”
As for D’Angelo himself, the years since his transfer from Venezuela to United States have been rewarding ones.
“I really feel very grateful and blessed to God. I’ve to be pleased about my staff, my household, and my horses, my homeowners, as a result of it was an incredible journey to reach right here on 2019 with tons of goals, expectations … hungry to win all of the races and do our greatest. We’re on an incredible journey.”
With Bentornato the morning-line favourite for the Dash, D’Angelo has a stable likelihood so as to add one other accolade to his resume: Breeders’ Cup winner.
