Coach Jose D’Angelo is as soon as once more having a good time at Del Mar.
He arrived in San Diego with two sturdy contenders for his or her respective Breeders’ Cup races. Shiso Spicy, a five-furlong Prevagen Turf Dash, and Ventornato, a six-furlong Cygames Dash. Ventornato, who completed second to Straight No Chaser within the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Dash, will return to Del Mar for D’Angelo with an eye fixed on the Winner’s Circle, however the win will fulfill one other dream for the Venezuelan native, who got here to america in 2019.
“The Breeders’ Cup and all these races are issues we watched on TV,” D’Angelo defined. “And I mentioned, ‘I’d like to go there sometime simply to see it.’ Now we’re out right here competing.”
Jose D’Angelo, the son of Francisco D’Angelo and himself an award-winning coach in Venezuela, loved success in his dwelling nation in 2014 when he received the nation’s most vital stakes, the Gran Premio Clasico Simon Bolivar, with Dreaming of Gold.
The Florida-based coach is already having fun with alternatives on the highest degree since relocating his shingles to america. He discovered success with former claimer Jesus’ group in 2020. Tapitua’s son was 3 years previous throughout a time when the Triple Crown season was present process modifications because of the coronavirus, ending third within the Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga, third within the Preakness Stakes and second to Nicks Go within the Breeders’ Cup Dust Mile. D’Angelo briefly raced within the Kentucky Derby in 2024 with Sam F. Davis Stakes winner No Extra Time, and that very same yr he took Bentornato to the Center East for the one-mile Saudi Derby. Valiant Minister Ridgeling, who was third behind Without end Younger, then returned to the dash and received the six-furlong Gallant Bob at Parkes Racing, heading west to complete second behind Straight No Chaser.
Ventornato, who returned for his second try on the 2025 Dash, has solely began as soon as since final yr’s Breeders’ Cup, when he received the Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes by 5 and 1 / 4 lengths on September 13 at Churchill Downs. Regardless of the 10-month hole between races, D’Angelo is assured the colt will likely be prepared for Saturday.
“He was scheduled to run within the Malibu (S) final yr, however we scratched him and let him relaxation. He had a bruised bone. Then once we have been coaching once more, the little splint was bothering him,” coach D’Angelo mentioned. “I needed to prepare him twice from scratch. I needed to progress him step-by-step to get him prepared for the Breeders’ Cup.”
Proprietor Angel Lozano, who plans to deliver the horse again to Saudi Arabia within the spring and races it underneath the Leon King Secure Company steady title, offered a 25% curiosity within the colt, which fetched $1,282,180, on the Keeneland Championship Sale in Del Mar on Oct. 29. The inventory was offered to Michael and Jules Ibarone for $1 million.
Iavarone’s involvement within the sport dates again to 2003, when he raced the 2008 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Massive Brown.
“We’re actually excited,” Iavarone mentioned. “He is a lovely horse. He is 17 arms and a really quick horse. I have been attempting to get a horse with Jose for a very long time, so he knew I used to be on this horse.”
Bentornato has logged 4 exercises since his victory at Churchill Downs, together with a 1:00 five-furlong run in a breeze at Keeneland on Oct. 18. The darkish bay colt seems to be poised to make one other sensational flip at Del Mar, and D’Angelo is assured he is prepared for his cost.
“I’ve a number of religion in him. He is grown and matured. He is a distinct horse,” mentioned the coach. “I’m certain he’s going to be robust right here Saturday.”
As for D’Angelo himself, the years since shifting to america from Venezuela have been difficult.
“I really feel so grateful and blessed to God. I’ve to thank my group, my household, my horses and my homeowners as a result of it has been an incredible journey arriving right here in 2019 with so many goals and expectations… hungry to win each race and do my finest. We’re on an important journey.”
With Ventornato being the morning favourite for the dash, D’Angelo has a stable likelihood so as to add one other Breeders’ Cup win to his resume.
