Be a Bono and Francisco taking a breather

Undefeated Be a Bono and his trainer, Dan Francisco, are both taking vacations after teaming up to win the Grade 1, $159,250 Spencer Childers California Breeders Championship, a race named after Be a Bono's owner, last Saturday night at Los Alamitos.

Be a Bono is resting at his owner's ranch near Fresno and Francisco took a few days away from the barn and went to Hawaii.

"He came out of the race well," Francisco said on Tuesday while watching the sun rise over the ocean. "We'll keep him up at the ranch for about a month and then bring him back and point to the PCQHRA Derby trials" to be held Sept. 18.

A short rest at the ranch before resuming training worked for Be a Bono in the Childers. A 3-year-old gelding, he was given a few months off after winning the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Derby on Feb. 27 and then returned to Francisco's barn at Los Alamitos.

Be a Bono's Childers' victory - his seventh straight and his first victory over older horses - did not come without adversity. He flattened out halfway through the 400-yard stakes, but then rallied to win by a head over Dealadash. "He threw his right front shoe, but everything is fine," Francisco said.

Francisco said that after the PCQHRA Derby, Be a Bono's goals will be the Grade 1, $200,000-added Los Alamitos Derby on Nov. 5 and the Grade 1, $400,000 Champion of Champions on Dec. 11.