BY MICHAEL COMPTON
Making just his third start of the season, Florida-bred Bentornato found the winner’s circle for the first time as a 3-year-old, taking down top prize in Saturday’s $400,000 Gallant Bob Stakes (Grade 2) at Parx Racing.
Ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Bentornato utilized his speed to duel along the inside with fellow Florida-bred Sunny Breeze through the early stages of the six-furlong fixture. After an opening quarter in :22.01 and a half mile in :45.08, the pair had the race to themselves in the lane. Neither runner gave an inch, but Bentornato gamely surged clear from his stubborn foe late to score by a neck, stopping the clock in 1:09.92. Buccherino rallied late to finish third, completing a Florida-bred trifecta.
Florida-breds have a history of success in the Gallant Bob Stakes. The race has been won in recent years by such Sunshine State products as Damon’s Mound (2023), Firenze Fire (2018)—who was also ridden by Ortiz—City of Weston (2013), and Royal Currier (2011) to name a few.
With the determined score, Bentornato is now a winner in five of eight career starts for owner Leon King Stable Corp. and trainer Jose D’Angelo. The $231,000 winner’s share of the lucrative purse increased Bentornato’s lifetime bankroll to $791,830.
The Gallant Bob marked the fourth stakes win for Bentornato. He rattled off three consecutive stakes scores last year as a juvenile, winning the Proud Man, the $100,000 FTBOA Florida Sire Dr. Fager and the $200,000 FTBOA Florida Sire Affirmed in succession. Bentornato was denied a sweep of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series, finishing third in the $300,000 FTBOA Florida Sire In Reality last December to conclude his successful 2-year-old campaign. A winner in four of five starts last year, Bentornato was named Florida’s 2-Year-Old Male Champion at season’s end.
Bentornato kicked off his sophomore season in the Middle East with a third-place finish behind Forever Young (Jpn) in the $15 million Saudi Derby (G3) at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in February. He returned in August with a second-place finish to Valentine Candy in the $500,000 Robert Hilton Memorial at Charles Town in his most previous outing.
Bred in Florida by Tanma Corp., Bentornato is the leading earner this year for his sire, Valiant Minister, who stands at Bridlewood Farm. Bentornato is produced from the winning Put It Back mare and Florida-bred Her Special Way. Originally sold for $45,000 to Pro Racing Stable from the Stuart Morris consignment at the 2022 OBS October Yearling Sale, Bentornato was acquired by Champion Equine for $170,000 out of last year’s OBS March Sale where he was consigned by Golden Rock.
Gallant Bob Stakes runner-up Sunny Breeze, a Stonehedge homebred trained by Edward Allard, just missed in a game effort. The 3-year-old son of Stonehedge stallion Cajun Breeze captured the $99,000 Concern at Laurel in July and is a three-time winner this year. The chestnut gelding is now twice stakes-placed, having finished third in the $75,000 Salvatore M. DeBunda Sprint at Parx on Aug. 24, a race won by Buccherino. Sunny Breeze is out of the Khozan mare Love My Sunshine.
