In the space of 50 minutes, trainer Jose D’Angelo cemented his place in the history of Breeders’ Cup and Thoroughbred racing. He won back-to-back Breeders’ Cup races, first with Shisospicy in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) and then with Bentornato in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) Nov. 1 at Del Mar.
With Irad Ortiz Jr. in the saddle, Bentornato broke in second and went right to the front in the 6-furlong Sprint. He blazed through a first quarter-mile in :21.48 and a half-mile in :44.14, with Straight No Chaser a half-length behind at both markers. Those fractions might have looked like fodder for closers, and a few certainly tried. But they couldn’t get close to Bentornato.