BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Florida-bred Bentornato, a commanding winner of the $1.84 million Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint (Grade 1) on Nov. 1, is one of three finalists for a 2025 Resolute Racing Eclipse Award as the Champion Male Sprinter it was announced Sunday by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Daily Racing Form and National Turf Writers and Broadcasters.
Winners in 17 horse and human categories will be announced on FanDuel TV, and other outlets, during the 55th Annual Resolute Racing Eclipse Awards, presented by John Deere, The Jockey Club and the NTRA, on Thursday, Jan. 22 at 7:30 p.m. ET. The evening will culminate with the announcement of the 2025 Horse of the Year.
Trained by Jose D’Angelo for Leon King Stable Corp., Julia C. and Michael Iavarone, Bentornato led the six-furlong Breeders’ Cup Sprint from gate to wire, winning by two-and-a-half-lengths at Del Mar.
Bentornato was undefeated in two starts during the year, earning $1,190,350 and increasing his career bankroll to $2,322,180. He was also a five-and-a-quarter-lengths winner of the $267,500 Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes (Listed) at Churchill Downs on Sept. 13 and was ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. in both races.
Bentornato is by Valiant Minister, who stands in Florida at Bridlewood Farm, and is out of Her Special Way, by Put It Back. He was bred in Florida by Tanma Corp.
Other finalists for Champion Male Sprinter are Book’em Danno and Nysos.
The Eclipse Awards are determined by votes by the NTRA, represented by member racetrack racing officials and Equibase field personnel, NTWAB, and Daily Racing Form, and are produced by the NTRA. Winners in each category are determined by who receives the most first-place votes.
Florida-breds have won 69 national titles starting with Needles as the Champion 2-Year-Old Colt in 1955. The most recent Florida-bred Champions came in 2017 when World Approval was named the Champion Turf Male and Caledonia Road was honored as the Champion 2-Year-Old Filly.
Florida-breds have earned 17 Champion Sprinter awards. From 1947 through 2006, the champion sprinter was awarded to a horse of either sex. In 2007, categories were created honoring champion male and female sprinters.
Champion Sprinters bred in the Sunshine State include Dr. Fager (1967, 1968), Ta Wee (1969, 1970), Shecky Greene (1973), Dr. Patches (1978), Gold Beauty (1982), Eillo (1984), Precisionist (1985), Smile (1986), Cherokee Run (1994), Not Surprising (1995), and Lost in the Fog (2005). Champion Male Sprinters bred in Florida are Benny the Bull (2008) and Big Drama (2010). Florida-breds Dubai Majesty (2010) and Musical Romance (2011) were named Champion Female Sprinters.
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