D'Angelo pair punch their tickets to next round of Florida Sire Stakes
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Cue the theme song to the sitcom “Welcome Back, Kotter.”
Trainer Jose D’Angelo swept the first two divisions of the Florida Sire Stakes on Saturday at Gulfstream Park with the 2-year-olds Welcome Back and Bentornato, which means welcome back in Italian.
Bentornato ran his record to 3 for 3 in the $100,000 Dr. Fager division and is being pointed to the track’s $200,000 Affirmed, D’Angelo said Tuesday.
The seven-furlong race for eligible 2-year-olds is the next offering in the Florida Sire series that closes with the $300,000 In Reality on Dec. 2.
Bentornato shuttled home by 7 1/2 lengths in the Dr. Fager and equaled his best Beyer Speed Figure, an 88. He first earned the number in the $90,000 Proud Man on Aug. 12. Bentornato, who has raced exclusively on the main track at Gulfstream, won his debut July 1.
“He came back really good,” D’Angelo said. “We are pointing to the Florida triple crown – the Florida Sire Stakes. He’s getting a week resting and will resume training next week.”
D’Angelo is hopeful Bentornato, a son of Valiant Minister, will respond to the additional distance of the final two legs of the Florida Sire Stakes.
He said Welcome Back is meant for more ground. She got up for a nose win in the $100,000 Desert Vixen division after encountering trouble.
“It was a harder race for her,” D’Angelo said. “She doesn’t want to go short. The next race is at seven furlongs.”
D’Angelo said Welcome Back is on deck for the $200,000 Susan’s Girl division for 2-year-old fillies on Oct. 21.
Welcome Back is 2 for 2. She won her maiden on July 29, when she made her career debut in an entry-level allowance on Tapeta.
“We were rushing against time to make the Florida Sire Stakes,” D’Angelo said. “It was the only race that we had. It’s why we ran the filly there.”
Welcome Back won by 1 3/4 lengths in a start that proved key in helping her advance to the Desert Vixen.
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