Bentornato To Begin Dubai Golden Shaheen Preparations

Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) winner Bentornato  is nearing a return to the work tab with a target on a trip to the Middle East for the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) on Dubai World Cup night, March 28.

Trainer Jose D'Angelo said Jan. 13 that the 5-year-old Valiant Minister   ridgling is expected to record his first breeze Jan. 17 since a dominant gate-to-wire score in the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar Nov. 1.

"He's doing great. I gave some time off at the barn, just walking and light training," D'Angelo said. "We are prepping him for Dubai. He's working this Saturday three furlongs, pretty easy."

This would be a second trip overseas for Bentornato. As a 3-year-old in 2024, he was third in the Saudi Derby (G3) to future grade 1 stars Forever Young  and Book'em Danno  while stretching out to one mile—a distance D'Angelo learned was too far for him.

Racing for Leon King Stable and Michael and Julia Iavarone, the Florida-bred is an Eclipse Award finalist for 2025 champion male sprinter. His key rival for that award is Book'em Danno.

The two have not raced against each other since their matchup with Forever Young. In 2025, several setbacks delayed Bentornato's season from starting until September, at which point Book'em Danno had already wrapped up for the season after sweeping three graded stakes at Saratoga Race Course over the summer. Regardless of the Eclipse results, D'Angelo is looking forward to a potential match-up in 2026 between the best sprinters of 2025.

"(Book'em Danno is) a good horse. They ran together against Forever Young, one of the best horses in the world," D'Angelo said. "Book'em Danno had a respectful year running all year. Bentornato didn't have health on his side this year. I think this year, they're going to meet again."

That meeting appears unlikely to come on the Arabian Peninsula. Following his Aug. 23 triumph in the Forego Stakes (G1), Book'em Danno was given an extended break by trainer Derek Ryan.

Ryan said Atlantic Six Racing's 5-year-old New Jersey-bred Bucchero   gelding is unlikely to be ready in time for a second trip to the Middle East to participate on the Saudi Cup or Dubai World Cup undercards. Instead, the plan will be to work backward from the Oct. 31 Breeders' Cup Sprint at Keeneland.

"We got him a good long break," Ryan said. "He won't be ready in time for any of (the Middle East races). I doubt it anyway. If there was any one, it would be Dubai. But we'll just probably come back and start here and work our way to Keeneland."