BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Florida-breds Federal Judge, Bentornato and Cagliostro put in their final works in preparation for their respective Breeders’ Cup engagements next week at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. Federal Judge and Bentornato are pre-entered to run in the $2 million Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint (Grade 1) while Cagliostro is on the also-elible list for the $1 Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.
Trainer Brad Cox sent Federal Judge four furlongs in :48.40 under exercise rider Joel Osorio at Churchill Downs Saturday morning, a breeze that ranked 27th among 157 works at the distance.
“[Federal Judge] went a half [mile] from the three-eighths [pole] and he went really good,” Cox said. “He went in [:48.40] and I shut him down after that because I didn’t want to do too much with him. But we are real pleased with how he’s doing and all is well. He get’s on a plane Monday morning.”
Federal Judge earned a fees-paid invitation into the Sprint with a five-and-a-half-length victory in the Grade 2 Stoll Keenon Ogen Phoenix, a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” event. It was the second straight victory for the son of Army Mule after winning a second condition, $62,500 optional claiming by six lengths at Saratoga on Aug. 31.
“[The Breeders’ Cup Sprint] is a step up. Obviously, this is going to be tougher than the Phoenix,” Cox said. “His speed is his weapon and he’s got to get out and go. We’re not going to sit off a few. That’s not going to be our intention. I think we see the best of him when he’s aggressively ridden. I know there’s going to be other speed in the race but we’re either going to be in front of ‘em or on top of ‘em if we get the opportunity.”
Federal Judge is out of Congarette, by Congaree and was bred in Florida by Richard Heysek’s Caperlane Farm in Morriston. The 4-year-old gelding has won four of six career starts with earnings of $402,960 for owners Siena Farm LLC and WinStar Farm LLC.
A graduate of the 2021 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Winter Mixed Sale where En Fuego Stables purchased him out of the Stuart Morris consignment for $40,000, Federal Judge sold for $200,000 to Maverick Racing a few months later at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Select Yearling Sale.
At Del Mar, Bentornato went four furlongs in :49.20 for trainer Jose D’Angelo and owners Leon King Stable Corp. The move was the fourth fastest of seven at that distance this morning at Del Mar.
Bentornato exits a neck victory over fellow Florida-breds Sunny Breeze and Buccherino, completing a Sunshine State trifecta in the Grade 2 Gallant Bob at Parx Racing on Sept. 21.
By Bridlewood Farm stallion Valiant Minister out of Her Special Way, by Put It Back, Bentornato was bred in Florida by Tanma Corp. The reliable sophomore ridgling has won five with a second and two third in eight starts while banking $791,830.
Bentornato was purchased by Champion Equine for $170,000 out of the Golden Rock Thoroughbreds consignment at the 2023 OBS March Sale. He is also a graduate of the Stuart Morris consignment, having sold for $40,000 to Pro Racing Stable at the 2022 OBS October Yearling Sale.
Trainer Cherie DeVaux sent Florida-bred Cagliostro through half-mile maintenance works at Keeneland early Saturday morning.
“This morning we were just working, looking for maintenance moves out here,” DeVaux said. “There’s nothing going to be too flashy, just trying to make sure they’re on task and doing as well as they can be. All of them looked great. This week, not looking for too much out of them is the objective.”
Wathnan Racing’s Cagliostro went in company with Blue Heaven Farm’s Pyrenees and were clocked in :49.
“If you take them solo, they’ll have a tendency to be a bit lazy,” DeVaux said about the two horses. “You just want to make sure they keep to task. They’re easy enough to ride [so] they’re not going to do too much out there.”
Cagliostro has won two of five starts this year including the $279,000 Hanshin at Churchill Downs going a mile on June 30. He was then fourth in the Grade 1 Forego won by Mullikin at Saratoga Race Course in August before finishing third last out in the Grade 3 Ack Ack going a mile over a sloppy track at Churchill on Sept. 28. The Ack Ack was won by Three Technique with Tumbarumba second, both are pre-entered to run in the Dirt Mile.
Cagliostro is by Upstart out of A Rosefor Isabelle, by Hard Spun and was bred in Florida by Lance Colwell and Janice Clark. He has three career wins with four seconds and two thirds while earning $496,668.
Cagliostro was purchased by DeVaux for $385,000 out of the Two Oaks Equine consignment at the 2022 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Spring Sale.
