SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The speedsters Bentornato, Howard Wolowitz, and Gabaldon, who could be major factors in their respective divisions during the second half of the season, arrived here from South Florida earlier this week. All three are likely to make one start at this meet, according to their trainer, Jose D’Angelo.
Bentornato has not raced since being beaten a half-length by last year’s sprint champion Straight No Chaser in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. He was sidelined by bone bruising that forced him to miss his scheduled 3-year-old finale last December at Santa Anita in the Grade 1 Malibu.
Bentornato worked five times prior to boarding the van for Saratoga on Monday, including an easy half-mile in 48.80 seconds last Sunday at Gulfstream Park.
“The Breeders’ Cup is our goal for him again,” said D’Angelo. “He’s still not quite fit enough to run yet but I’m hoping to have him ready to make a start at Saratoga before the end of the meet.”
Howard Wolowitz, who won the Grade 1 Franklin-Simpson last summer at Kentucky Downs prior to a troubled ninth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, has been freshened since returning from Saudi Arabia after checking home 10th in the Group 2 1351 Turf Sprint. He lit up Gulfstream Park’s Tapeta track on Sunday, zipping four furlongs in 44.20.
“He’s only had a couple of works but he’s coming around fast. He’s going to be ready sooner than I thought,” said D’Angelo. “The plan is to give him one prep here, then take him back to Kentucky Downs for the Turf Sprint on Aug. 30.”
The Grade 2, $2 million Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint will be run at six furlongs and is a Win and You’re In for the BC Turf Sprint.
Gabaldon has started just once since his second-place finish in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Ascot in June 2024. Now 3, he has been plagued with breathing issues throughout his brief career but D’Angelo said he seems much improved since undergoing tie-back throat surgery following a third-place finish in the Texas Glitter at Gulfstream in his 2025 debut.
“I think now that we have his breathing issue corrected, he can come back even better than ever,” said D’Angelo, who is eyeing the Grade 3 Mahony Stakes going 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf here Aug. 10 for Gabaldon.
Gabaldon had the clockers’ watches buzzing at Gulfstream on Sunday, when he worked five furlongs in 57.20 over the Tapeta course.
D’Angelo also brought a fourth horse up from Florida this week, the promising 2-year-old Monster, a nine-length maiden winner while making his turf debut at Gulfstream on May 23. He is targeting the 5 1/2-furlong Skidmore on the grass here Aug. 16.
“That was a pretty nice van full of horses we sent up here, and I am very excited looking ahead to the rest of the summer with all of them,” D’Angelo said.
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