After running for a combined $2 million in his last two races in West Virginia and Saudi Arabia, it made all the sense in the world that Bentornato would appear in a $400,000 stakes in Pennsylvania.
After a second and third in those races, It also logical that jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. would follow him to Bensalem, Pa., and that played a huge role in the Florida-bred son of Valiant Minister earning his initial graded stakes win.
Under a hustling and aggressive ride by the five-time Eclipse Award winner, Bentornato dueled for the early lead from the rail and then fended off a determined stretch bid from 17-1 longshot Sunny Breeze to record a neck victory in the $400,000 Gallant Bob Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds Sept. 21 at Parx Racing.
Owned by Leon King Stable, Bentornato started his 3-year-old campaign for trainer Jose D’Angelo with a third behind the victorious Forever Young after setting the pace in the $1.5 million Saudi Derby (G3) and then traveled to Hollywood Casino At Charles Town Races for a second in the Aug. 23 in the $500,000 Robert Hilton Memorial Stakes, putting him on edge for a big effort in Saturday’s six-furlong stakes.
Bred by Tanma, Bentornato broke quickly from the rail and dueled for the lead with Sunny Breeze and Alwaysintomischief through an opening quarter-mile in :22.01.
The trio remained locked together until they passed the quarter pole and Alwaysintomischief weakened.
Meanwhile, Bentornato and Sunny Breeze continued to battle in a two-horse duel to the wire with Sunny Breeze taking a short lead in midstretch before the even-money favorite ($4) gamely surged to the front late and crossed the line in 1:09.92.
“That wasn’t easy. It was a fight from the beginning to the end, from gate to wire,” Ortiz said. “He (Sunny Breeze) was a tough customer. I had to work hard to make the lead going to the quarter pole, then hold it. That other horse was fighting. My horse did a great job, he fought back.”
Stonehedge’s Sunny Breeze, a son of Cajun Breeze trained by Edward Allard, was second by a length over Buccherino , a Bucchero colt trained by Alfredo Velazquez and owned by Happy Tenth Stable.
Out of the Put It Back mare Her Special Way , Bentornato is the fifth of her seven foals and lone stakes winner. She also has a 2-year-old full brother to the Gallant Bob winner and a yearling filly by Saketini .
An earner of $791,830 and winner of five of eight starts, Bentornato was bought for $170,000 by agent Champion Equine from the Golden Rock Thoroughbreds consignment at the 2023 Ocala Breeders’ March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.
