Derby Hopeful Bentornato Goes for FSS Sweep Saturday

Leon King Stable's Bentornato  has answered every sprint challenge, bringing a 4-for-4 unbeaten streak into the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes final. The talented Valiant Minister   colt, trained by Jose D'Angelo, is favored to become the 11th juvenile to sweep the colt and gelding division when he faces six rivals in the $300,000, 1 1/16-mile In Reality Stakes Dec. 2 at Gulfstream Park.

The unknown factor is the colt's ability to handle two turns. D'Angelo thinks the Tanma Corp.-bred 2-year-old is ready to put that concern to bed.

"He's a fast horse. I know he will be on the lead. I think we did everything for the horse to go the distance," D'Angelo said. "The horse is very talented. We're going to be fine there. We've gotten him to relax, and the horse has responded. He's very good running like you want. He's learned so fast."

"I think this horse will make his future. If he responds the way we think, we can point him to the Florida Derby and the [Kentucky] Derby," D'Angelo added.

Bentornato gets the job done in the @florida_horse #FloridaSireStakes Affirmed, @JaramilloJockey in the stirrups for @JFDAngelo. #GulfstreamPark #SunshineMeet pic.twitter.com/uc4KINFwra

— Gulfstream Park (@GulfstreamPark) October 21, 2023

Of the remaining six challengers, the biggest threat appears to be Ironhorse Racing Stable and Harlow Stables' Mattingly , runner-up in the Oct. 21 Affirmed. The Bucchero   colt, trained by Joseph Orseno, is another juvenile trying two turns for the first time.

"I think he has a level head and he's rateable," trainer Joe Orseno said. "I think he'll be fine going two turns."

"I thought he would handle [dirt], but you never know," Orseno said. He didn't get the best trip. He got stopped and lost some momentum. He had to take up and get going again. He was coming on again. I am pretty excited about the race coming up."

A potential upsetter is Just For Fun Stable's Brawn  who brings open-stakes experience into the In Reality. The Ruben Sierra-trained son of Neolithic   won his debut in August before turning in fourth-place finishes in both the Oct. 1 Aventura and Nov. 4 Armed Forces.

Jockey Leonel Reyes has the call on Brawn, who gained two-turn experience in the Armed Forces, a mile-and-70-yard stakes on Tapeta.

Bentornato, a $175,000 purchase at the 2023 Ocala Breeders' March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, will be ridden by regular pilot Emisael Jaramillo. Edgard Zayas, who captured the recently concluded Sunshine Meet riding title at Gulfstream, will ride Mattingly for the first time.

R Harper Rose Leads Fillies in My Dear Girl

The $300,000 My Dear Girl, also at 1 1/16 miles Saturday on the main track, is the FSS finale for fillies sired by accredited Florida stallions.

Averill Racing and Two Eight Racing's undefeated R Harper Rose  has won all three of her starts by a combined 16 lengths. The Khozan   filly was a four-length smashing winner of the seven-furlong Susan's Girl Oct. 21. The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained juvenile won at first asking before taking a 5 1/2-furlong optional claiming allowance by 5 3/4 lengths. She missed the first leg of the FSS series with an elevated temperature.

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. is optimistic that his filly will handle that distance test.

"I think she has enough class. I was more afraid of the seven furlongs than the mile and a sixteenth, but you still have to go out and do it," Joseph said. "It's a different kind of tempo. Seven-eighths is harder. The two turns here are kinder. I think she'll get it."

Joseph is also represented by Calypso Racing Stables' Pardy Pleaser , who has won one of four races, all on Tapeta.

Quintessential Racing Florida, Rocky Top Stable and LEMB Stable's Dancing N Dixie  has something that her seven other challengers do not—two-turn experience. Trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, the daughter of Neolithic   won both of her races at a mile and 70 yards, though over Gulfstream's Tapeta synthetic track.

Dancing N Dixie was a disappointing fourth and a distant fifth in her two prior starts sprinting on dirt.

R Harper Rose sold for $60,000 at the 2023 OBS 2-Year-Olds in Training sale. Zayas rides.

Miguel Vasquez has the return mount on Dancing N Dixie. He is 2-for-2 on the filly since hopping aboard her for her third start.