The first round of the Florida Sire Stakes on Saturday at Gulfstream Park drew two juveniles named Welcome Back for trainer Jose D’Angelo. “One in Italiano and one in English,” he said. “Different owners.” Bentornato – which is Italian for welcome back – seeks to run his record to 3 for 3 in the $100,000 Dr. Fager division. Welcome Back, who won her maiden in a first-level allowance, goes in the $100,000 Desert Vixen, which is for fillies. The horses have more than just a name in common. “They both are big, big horses,” D’Angelo said. The Dr. Fager and Desert Vixen are six furlongs and restricted to 2-year-olds by accredited Florida stallions. The races are being held later on the calendar this year. The series continues with the Affirmed and Susan’s Girl on Oct. 21, and the In Reality and My Dear Girl on Dec. 2. Bentornato faces nine others in the Dr. Fager, including Dickens, who exits a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Sanford at Saratoga, and Gentle Breeze, a more than 12-length debut winner at Gulfstream. In his July 1 debut, Bentornato was up for a neck victory in a five-furlong maiden special weight for Florida-breds at Gulfstream. :: Bet with the Best! Get Free DRF PPs and Cashback when you wager. Join DRF Bets. Bentornato set the pace in his other start Aug. 12, winning the $90,000 Proud Man at Gulfstream. He broke slow and inward before quickly moving to the lead to win by 4 1/4 lengths, with a Beyer Speed Figure of 88. “He’s doing so good,” D’Angelo said. “I’m pretty confident going into this race. He’s matured a little bit. We’ve been working with him. In his last race, he missed the break. We’ve tried to improve that.” Bentornato will start from post 10. “We’re hoping to have a good start,” D’Angelo said. “Last time, he ran like a speed horse. I think with the work we’ve been doing, he’s going to have a good start, he’s going to set his own pace in the race.” D’Angelo said he’s been pleased with how Bentornato has worked at Palm Meadows since the Proud Man. The horse went a half-mile in 48.20 seconds Aug. 26, and the same distance in 47.20 on Sept. 2. Emisael Jaramillo has the mount on the son of Valiant Minister for Leon King Stable. Gentle Breeze, who is by Cajun Breeze, was second in the Proud Man. He closed from off the pace one start after wiring maiden rivals. Leonel Reyes has the mount for Stonehedge and trainer Ralph Nicks. Dickens, who is by Adios Charlie, was a debut winner at Gulfstream before the Sanford on July 15. Welcome Back, who is by Adios Charlie, is part of an eight-horse field for the Desert Vixen. She should get good support, as should R Harper Rose, a 6 1/4-length debut winner Aug. 6 at Gulfstream. Welcome Back debuted in a first-level allowance July 29, and after breaking from the rail closed for a 1 3/4-length win going five-eighths of a mile on Tapeta. “She’s training very good since the race,” D’Angelo said. “Maybe a question is trying dirt, but she’s trained beautifully on dirt. “The race looks like it’s going to have a lot of speed. She’s a closer and she should have a lot of pace.” Welcome Back earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 68 in her debut – the best career number in the Desert Vixen. Edwin Gonzalez has the mount from post 4 for breeder and owner Soldi Stables. R Harper Rose won her debut on a muddy main track and increased her advantage at each point of call. Edgard Zayas as the mount on the daughter of Khozan for Averill Racing and Two Eight Racing and trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. Kitty’s Pretty earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 66 for her debut win, when she led throughout for a 5 3/4-length victory over open maidens June 16 at Gulfstream. Officials hope the new placement of the Florida Sire Stakes – from the later start date to more time between divisions – will benefit the developing 2-year-olds. The move is driven by horsemen. :: Get Daily Racing Form Past Performances – the exclusive home of Beyer Speed Figures “We thought as a horseman’s group that it was important, and the breeders got on board,” trainer Joe Orseno, president of the Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, said in press release. “I think we’ll see in the long run that horses will stay sounder and compete longer in life.” The card Saturday includes the $60,000 Soaring Softly for fillies and mares at a mile and 70 yards on Tapeta. D’Angelo will add blinkers to Ocean Safari. “Last year, she won a stakes as a 3-year-old,” he said. “I think she has a shot in the race if she runs back to her form.” :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.