BY GULFSTREAM PARK PRESS OFFICE

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL –Undefeated Bentornato breezed five furlongs in 1:03.05 Saturday morning at Palm Meadows Training Center in preparation for a highly anticipated start in next Saturday’s $200,000 Affirmed, the seven-furlong second leg of the 2023 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series for 2-year-olds sired by accredited Florida stallions, at Gulfstream Park.

“The idea today was to start slow and close hard—giving him the edge he needs to go seven furlongs,” trainer Jose D’Angelo said.

The son of Bridlewood Farm stallion Valiant Minister kept his three-race record unblemished with a commanding seven-and-a-half-length triumph in the $100,000 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes Dr. Fager Sept. 9 at Gulfstream Park.

Bentornato, a $170,000 purchase by Champion Equine out of the Golden Rock Thoroughbreds consignment at the Ocala Breeders Sales March Sale, debuted with a late-finishing victory by a neck in a five-furlong maiden special weight race July 1. The Florida-bred colt came back to score an impressive four-and-a-quarter-length triumph in the $90,000 Proud Man going six furlongs on Aug. 12 at Gulfstream prior to capturing the six-furlong Dr. Fager for King Leon Stable Corp.

Bred in Florida by Tanma Corp., Bentornato is out of Her Special Way, by Put it Back. He has earned $158,300 in his three starts.

The D’Angelo-trained Welcome Back open galloped at Palm Meadows for next Saturday’s $200,000 Susan’s Girl, the seven-furlong second leg of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series for fillies. The undefeated daughter of Ocala Stud stallion Adios Charlie captured the $100,000 Desert Vixen with a last-ditch rally in first leg action at six furlongs.

“Her workout last weekend was her final workout. She worked in company really, really good,” D’Angelo said. “She had a two-minute lick this morning.”

Soldi Stable LLC’s Welcome Back closed with a rush from last to capture her July 29 debut going away at five furlongs on Tapeta.

Return to Oct. 15 issue of Wire to Wire