Bentornato tunes up for Malibu Stakes
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HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Breeders’ Cup Sprint runner-up Bentornato turned in his final major prep for his 2024 finale, the Grade 1 Malibu on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita, on Monday morning at the Palm Meadows training center, going six furlongs from the five-eighths pole in 1:13.80, per Daily Racing Form clocker Donald Harris. The move confirmed his status for the Malibu and had trainer Jose D’Angelo brimming with confidence several hours later.
“I was looking for a strong workout from him coming off the Breeders’ Cup to have him ready for this race, and he responded very well. I was very pleased with how he did it,” D’Angelo said. “I prepped him the same way for the Breeders’ Cup, and he responded with what I thought was his best race yet. I know he’s still 3, but this is almost really going to be his first race as a 4-year-old and I really think there is a lot of room for improvement with him next season.”
Bentornato will be racing at Santa Anita for the first time in the seven-furlong Malibu, but trying a new surface is nothing new to the son of Valiant Minister, who raced at four different racetracks in his first four starts of 2024.
“He’s run at Gulfstream Park, Colonial, Parx, and Del Mar, it doesn’t seem to bother him no matter where we take him, so going to Santa Anita for the first time is not a concern,” D’Angelo said.
A big effort in the Malibu should have Bentornato in the discussion for Eclipse Award honors in the sprint division with a résumé that along with his second-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint includes a victory in the Grade 2 Gallant Bob and a third-place finish behind Forever Young and Book ’em Danno in the Group 3 Saudi Derby.
D’Angelo said Bentornato, who was to depart for Santa Anita early Tuesday morning, will again be ridden by Luis Saez in the Malibu.
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