D'Angelo pointing four runners to Saratoga stakes

Gulfstream Park stakes winners Bentornato and Run Classic are both being pointed for upcoming Grade 1 races at Saratoga, according to trainer Jose D’Angelo.

Bentornato won two-thirds of last year’s Florida Sire Stakes before going on to run third in the Group 3 Saudi Derby in his most recent start Feb. 24. D’Angelo said the horse is on pace to run in the $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial on Aug. 24.

“Bentornato, he’s doing great,” D’Angelo said. “He’s still in Florida. He’s going to work one more time and go to Saratoga. He’s working excellent.”

p>Bentornato’s recent moves include five furlongs in a bullet 59.80 seconds at Palm Meadows on July 27. In the Jerkens, he will be traveling seven furlongs, the distance at which he won the Affirmed division of the Florida Sire Stakes.

The Saudi Derby has become a key race. It was won by Forever Young, who came back to win the Group 2 U.A.E. Derby and run a close third in the Kentucky Derby. Book’em Danno, who was second in the Saudi Derby, returned in his next start to win the Grade 1 Woody Stephens at Saratoga.

Bentornato is a son of Valiant Minister who has won 4 of 6 starts for Leon Stable Corp. D’Angelo is pleased with how the horse has developed since the Saudi Derby.

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“He’s looking more mature and he has been working fast,” he said.

D’Angelo said Run Classic, the winner of the Gulfstream Park Sprint in February, is being pointed for the $500,000 Forego, which is on the same card as the Jerkens.

The Forego, for 4-year-olds and up, will be run at seven furlongs. Run Classic is a multiple winner at the distance. He will enter the race off a closing second in the Smile Sprint at six furlongs July 6 at Gulfstream.

Howard Wolowitz, who won a maiden special weight June 22 at Gulfstream, is being pointed for the $150,000 Mahony on Aug. 11 at Saratoga, said D’Angelo. The 5 1/2-furlong turf race is for 3-year-olds. Howard Wolowitz won his maiden at five furlongs on Tapeta last out and popped a Beyer Speed Figure of 92.

D’Angelo has another runner with Gulfstream ties pointing for an upcoming stakes at Saratoga. He said Gabaldon, who won the Royal Palm Juvenile, remains on target for the $150,000 Skidmore for 2-year-olds at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf Aug. 16.

“Hopefully, we’re going to have a good month,” said D’Angelo.

Big and Classy should improve

Big and Classy, one of the winningest horses of 2023 with an 8-for-11 record, shortens up some in distance for Sunday’s ninth race at Gulfstream. The conditioned allowance is for 3-year-olds and up over 6 1/2 furlongs.

Big and Classy raced over a mile last out and was seventh in an overnight handicap July 20 that served as his first start since October. Trainer Bobby Dibona said prior to the race he felt the mile was not an ideal distance off the bench for Big and Classy, who had limited options at the time. The horse would seem to have reason to move forward in his second race back Sunday.

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Leonel Reyes has the mount from post 2.

The field of seven also includes Loco Abarrio, who was second to Run Classic in the Gulfstream Park Sprint in February and who exits a fifth-place finish in the Smile Sprint.

Saint Tapit makes his first start since March. He is a son of Tapit and his dam, Havre de Grace, is a past Horse of the Year.

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