BY TAMMY A GANTT
Florida-breds Bentornato and Roll On Big Joe make a field of 11 going six furlongs at Churchill Downs on Saturday in the $300,000 Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes.
A ridgling by Valiant Minister out of Her Special Way by Put It Back, Bentornato comes off a long layoff after finishing second in the Grade 1 Cyngames Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 2 last year. Prior to that finish, the dark bay owned by Leon King Stable Corp. ticked off a win in the Grade 2 Gallant Bob Stakes at Parx, a second in the Robert Hilton Memorial Stakes, and a third in the Grade 3 Boutique Group Saudi Derby. He finished in the money in all his races in 2024.
In preparation for Saturday, trainer Jose Francisco D’Angelo began posting breezes in July in Florida at Palm Meadows on dirt and then at Gulfstream Park on the all-weather track. He arrived at Saratoga in August with his last breeze from the gate on Sept. 6 going four furlongs in 49.49.
Bentornato has five firsts, two seconds and two thirds in nine starts and earnings of $1,131,830, including nearly sweeping the Florida Sire Stakes with victories in the Dr. Fager and Affirmed, finishing third in the In Reality. His sire Valiant Minister stands at Bridlewood Farm and he was bred by Tanma Corp. A two-time Ocala Breeder Sales graduate, Bentornato sold at the October yearling sale in 2022 to Pro Racing Stable for $45,000 out of the Stuart Morris consignment and later sold as a two-year-old out of the Golden Rock Thoroughbreds consignment for $170,000 to Champion Equine.
Roll On Big Joe comes into the race after a fifth- place finish in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar on July 26. The gelding likes the Churchill Downs surface winning the Grade 3 Kelly’s Landing Stakes on June 28 and an allowance optional claimer on May 16.
Roll On Big Joe is by multiple graded stakes winner Prospective and is out of a Max Ubide mare Nina’s Gift by Victory Gallop. The gelding has earned $502,400 in 19 starts with seven firsts, six seconds and one third. Bred by Ubide, the horse is trained by Robert B. Hess, Jr and is owned by Rancho Temescal LLC, Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners, White Fence LLC and Richard Hale, Jr., after being purchased out of the consignment of Gayle Woods for $90,000 out of the June 2022 OBS sale.
Roll On Big Joe faces World Record who outraced him in the Bing Crosby, finishing third.
Here Mi Song finished third in last year’s Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes and last won over the Churchill Downs oval on Sept. 15, 2022 in an allowance optional claimer. Here Mi Song finished first in his last race at Ellis Park on Aug. 9 and will make the trip over from Ellis.
Multiple graded stakes placed Nash joins the field, along with lightly raced and recent allowance winner Ajaayb, Grade 3 Aristides Stakes winner Durante, recent winner at Kentucky Downs Banjo Chris, Skelly who ran second in the race last year and Alapocas Run Stakes winner Full Moon Madness ships in from Delaware Park. Little Ni won and finished second in allowance optional claimers at Saratoga on Aug. 9 and July 12.
Return to the September 10 issue of Wire to Wire
