BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Leon King Stable Corp., Julia Iavarone and Michael Iavarone’s Grade 1-winning multimillionaire Bentornato heads to Saratoga Race Course with trainer Jose D’Angelo for one of the more anticipated matchups of the year in the Grade 3 True North, a $400,000 contest for nine 4-year-olds and older sprinting six-and-a-half furlongs.
The 5-year-old ridgling son of Bridlewood Farm stallion Valiant Minister is set for a rematch with Book’em Danno, last year’s Eclipse Award Champion Male Sprinter. Bentornato finished second to Book’em Danno in the Eclipse Award voting by a count of 115-82.
This will be the first time the two heralded sprinters have met since the 2024 Boutique Group Saudi Derby (G3) at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh when Bentornato was third behind winner Forever Young (Jpn) and runner-up Book ‘em Danno.
Both Book’em Danno and Bentornato make their second start of 2026, and both come out of second-place finishes.
Bentornato was second to Dark Saffron in the Dubai Golden Shaheen sponsored by Nakheel (G1) run over six furlongs at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai on March 28. Book’em Danno was a neck behind Point Dunne in the seven-furlong Carter presented by NYRA Bets (G2) at Aqueduct on April 4.
Bentornato made the most of his two starts last year under returning rider Irad Ortiz, Jr., taking the Listed Louisville Thoroughbred Society with a stalking trip in September at Churchill Downs ahead of a frontrunning score in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint in November at Del Mar. He earned a career-best 110 Beyer for the two-and-a-quarter-length Breeders’ Cup score over returning rival Imagination, who exited that effort to capture the Group 2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint.
“At Churchill Downs, he ran behind the speed and made his move turning home and it was a smashing victory,” D’Angelo said. “When we went to Breeders’ Cup, I told Irad that there were two horses that can be fast on the break, so that’s why as soon as he broke good, he had to go. You can’t let those other horses go because they can make your trip be terrible.
“We gave him 60 days after Breeders’ Cup, so it was very impressive how he came off the layoff in [the Dubai Golden Shaheen]. I know he needed that race,” D’Angelo said. “Also, we broke inside horses and he was fourth or fifth and then later making his move.”
Bentornato has trained into the True North at Churchill Downs where he worked a half mile in :48.40 May 30 with Ortiz, Jr. aboard.
“His work was very good. He worked an easy four furlongs on his own with Irad,” D’Angelo said.
D’Angelo said he knew from the start that Bentornato was a special talent. The dark bay made his first five starts at Gulfstream Park, taking the Proud Man at second asking in August 2023 before winning the first two legs of that year’s Florida Sire Stakes—the six-furlong Dr. Fager and seven-furlong Affirmed.
He suffered his first defeat when stretched out to a mile-and-a-sixteenth in the In Reality division of the Florida Sire Stakes that December but a little more than two months later showed his talent in the Saudi Derby.
“The first time he lost was in the third leg of the Florida [Sire Stakes],” D’Angelo recalled. “It was his first time going two turns and I told the owners, ‘if the horse loses today, don’t get too sad. Because I am sure about his talent but I’m guessing about the distance.’
“In Saudi, he lost against Forever Young and Book’em Danno—two horses that were later Eclipse Award Champions, so he was maturing like a good horse,” D’Angelo added.
Bentornato made the grade in the Grade 2 Gallant Bob in September 2024 at Parx ahead of a half-length second to subsequent Champion Straight No Chaser in that year’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar.
D’Angelo said Bentornato has improved with age.
“We always gave him time. His campaign has some gaps in between—these are minor things. But we gave him time and right now he’s running at his peak,” D’Angelo said.
Bentornato has a career record of seven wins, three seconds and two thirds in 12 starts with earnings of $2,722,180. He is out of Her Special Way by Put It Back and was bred in Florida by Susan and Charles Chu’s Tanma Corp. based in Andover, Maryland.
Bentornato has post three and is the 8-5 morning line favorite.
Last year Book’em Danno won four of five starts with a third including a length-and-a-quarter victory in the True North. He then won the Grade 2 Alfred G. Vanderbilt at Saratoga in July and finished his year with a length victory in the Grade 1 Forego going seven furlongs at Saratoga on August 23.
Trained by Derek Ryan for Atlantic Six Racing LLC, Book’em Danno has post six and is the second choice on the morning line at 2-1.
His career record stands at 10 wins with four seconds and a third from 17 starts with earnings of $1,915,425.
Paco Lopez will ride from post six.
Others lining up in the True North are Acoustic Ave with Jose Lezcano up, Imagination and jockey Flavien Prat, Listenupshance will have Antonio Fresu in the irons, Faust has Jose Ortiz taking the call, John Velazquez will guide Be You, Illuminare carries Manny Franco and Dylan Davis captains Pentathlon.
Return to the June 4 issue of Wire to Wire
