BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Florida-bred millionaires Bentornato and Reef Runner hit the international stage on the Dubai World Cup undercard at Meydan Racecourse Saturday as strong contenders in the Group 1, US$2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen sponsored by Nakheel and the Group 1, US$1.5 million Al Quoz Sprint sponsored by Aziz Developments respectively.
Owned by Angel Lozano’s Leon King Stable Corporation and Julia C. and Michael Iavarone and trained by Jose D’Angelo, Bentornato tries to join Secret Circle as the only horse to win both the Breeders’ Cup Sprint and Dubai Golden Shaheen. Secret Circle won the Breeders’ Cup Sprint in 2013 and the 2015 edition of the Golden Shaheen.
This will be the second trip to the Middle East for Bentornato, who was third behind winner Forever Young (Jpn) in the Group 3 Saudi Derby in February of 2024.
“When you look at his career, he was undefeated in his first four starts at two but then he lost in Saudi to the best horse in the world, Forever Young,” D’Angelo said. “He ran huge but we realized a mile isn’t what he needs.”
The lightly raced son of Bridlewood Farm stallion Valiant Minister has just five starts since, winning three with two seconds. He went two-for-two last year including his two-and-a-half-length domination of the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 1 and a five-and-a-quarter-length romp in the $267,000 Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes (Listed) at Churchill Downs in September.
Named the Florida-bred champion sprinter and champion older male of 2025 by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association, Bentornato makes his first start as a 5-year-old Saturday.
“He’s doing very well and he’s keeping his condition well,” D’Angelo said. “He’s handled the trip perfectly over here and he really likes this track too. At the Breeders’ Cup and Churchill Downs, he was training better and better each day and I’m seeing the same here. So I’m very confident he’s going to be tough.”
Bentornato drew gate two at Wednesday’s post position draw, not entirely ideal for a horse that d’Angelo says is “better drawn outside”.
“He has natural speed, so outside you have less pressure. But the draw is what it is,” D’Angelo said.
Bentornato has career earnings of $2,322,180 from seven wins in 11 starts with two seconds and two thirds. Bred in Florida by Susan and Charles Chu in the name of their Tanma Corp., Bentornato is out of the Put It Back mare Her Special Way.
He is the 7-4 favorite on the morning line for the Dubai Golden Shaheen, a race previously won by Florida-breds XY Jet in 2019, Benny the Bull in 2008 and Ramp and Rave in 1999.
Reef Runner Goes For Second Straight Stakes Victory in Middle East
Florida-bred Reef Runner – ©DRC Photo
Last year after Reef Runner finished third in a conditioned allowance race sprinting five furlongs on the Gulfstream Park turf in May, trainer David Fawkes decided the Alex and JoAnn Lieblong homebred needed something different.
“Last year we kicked him out for 60 days and gelded him,” Fawkes said. “When he came back, he just blossomed. And we decided to run in the Breeders’ Cup.”
Fawkes promptly sent Reef Runner to Del Mar in August where he won the Grade 3 Green Flash Handicap by a nose ahead of defending champion Mororious (GB). But track officials disqualified Reef Runner placing him second for interference.
In strong disagreement with the steward’s decision but undeterred, Fawkes then entered Reef Runner in the Grade 2 Eddie D Stakes on the downhill turf at Santa Anita on September 27. Despite a troubled trip and racing last of eight at the top of the stretch, Reef Runner unleashed a furious run to win by half-length, solidifying his entry in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) back at Del Mar on Nov. 1. Unable to catch the free-running Shisospicy, Reef Runner finished fourth but has not lost in two starts since.
He took the $125,000 Janus at Gulfstream on December 20 then Fawkes got some input from an international associate.
“From there, a friend of mine, Nick Esler, kinda promoted the idea of going to Saudi and that was a good thing.”
Reef Runner was sent to Saudi Arabia for the US$2 million 1351 Turf Sprint (Group 2) at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh. There he rallied from 13th to catch Lazzat (Fr) just before the wire, winning by neck.
Fawkes kept Reef Runner in the Middle East, sending him to Dubai, where Fawkes said he has settled in nicely.
“He’s been very, very quite. His mentality is bomb proof,” Fawkes said. “[Reef Runner has been] excellent. He’s adapted very well here. He seems to like this warm weather.
“He worked excellent. He got back to the barn and we took a look at him and watched him cool out and he looked great. Right now, we’re very confident.”
Reef Runner has drawn post five in the field of 13 in the Al Quoz Sprint, set for 1,200 meters (about six furlongs) on the turf.
Reef Runner attempts to join Extravagant Kid, who won the race in 2021, on the list of Florida-bred winners of the Al Quoz Sprint.
Return to the March 27 issue of Wire to Wire
