BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Florida-breds Bentornato, Sunny Breeze and Buccherino were assigned big Beyer Speed Figures for their performances in the Grade 2 Gallant Bob at Parx Racing on Sept. 21 in which they finished first, second and third respectively.
Soldi Stables Corp.’s Bentornato earned a 101 Beyer number in the six-furlong Gallant Bob while Stonehedge LLC homebred Sunny Breeze earned a 100 Beyer. Buccherino, who is owned by Happy Tenth Stable, just missed in earning his first triple-digit Beyer number while producing a career-high 98.
Ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. and trained by Jose D’Angelo, Bentornato covered six furlongs in 1:09.92 in winning for first time in three starts this year.
He was third in the $1 million Botique Group Saudi Derby (G3) won by Forever Young (Jpn) at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh on Feb. 24 and second to Valentine Candy in the $500,000 Robert Hilton Memorial at Charles Town Races on Aug. 23.
According to Daily Racing Form, the 101 Beyer number ranks among the 20 best Beyer Speed Figures achieved by 3-year-olds—male or female—this year.
Bentornato is by Bridlewood Farm stallion Valiant Minister out of Her Special Way, by Put It Back and was bred in Florida by Tanma Corp. He has five wins, a second and two thirds in eight career starts with earnings of $791,830.
He was the second consecutive Florida-bred winner of the Gallant Bob after Damon’s Mound last year. Other Florida-bred winners include Firenze Fire (2018), City of Weston (2013), Royal Currier (2011), Pashito the Che (2009), Abbodanza (2004), Thunderello (2002), Sea of Green (2001), Valid Trefaire (1999) and Rocky Knave in 1985.
Florida-breds are prominent among top Beyer Speed Figures this year in North America. Glassman Racing’s Arthur’s Ride has two numbers in the top two. He is among three horses with a 111 Beyer number at more than a mile. He was assigned that figure for his victory against second condition, $62,500 optional claiming horses at Saratoga Race Course on June 7. He also has a 110 achieved when winning the Grade 1 Whitney at Saratoga on Aug. 3.
Florida-bred 2-year-old Rated by Merit has a 92 Beyer number achieved in his debut on July 13 and was assigned a 93 in winning the $100,000 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes Dr. Fager on Sept. 7. Those Beyer numbers rank third and fifth among 2-year-olds in North America this year.
