Bentornato, winner of last year's Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) at Del Mar, has been sidelined for the remainder of the year by a small sesamoid fracture, according to trainer Jose D'Angelo, who confirmed with BloodHorse information initially reported by Daily Racing Form.
Leon King Stable and TCC Stables' 5-year-old son of Valiant Minister last worked 4 furlongs July 4 at Saratoga Race Course in :49.66. D'Angelo said the injury was detected July 10 after the horse galloped.
"The fracture is very small and hard to see so it took some time to figure what happened and make arrangements for the surgery," D'Angelo said. "He is leaving Sunday to go to Kentucky. All the doctors say the prognosis is very good."
D'Angelo said he expects Bentornato to return to racing in 2027.
Bentornato made two starts this year. His first race was a second in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) at Meydan Racecourse to Dark Saffron. Next out he ran a close second to Book'em Danno in the True North Stakes (G3).
For his career to date, Bentornato has compiled a 7-4-2 record from 13 starts and banked $2,802,180. He has won or placed in 12 black-type stakes from 2 to 5, with his best performances made in the 2025 Breeders' Cup Sprint, 2024 Gallant Bob Stakes (G2), and in two divisions of the 2023 Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association Florida Sire Series during which he captured the Dr. Fager Stakes and Affirmed Stakes at Gulfstream Park. He just missed sweeping the FTBOA Sire series when he finished third in the In Reality Stakes. He has two other graded-placed finishes to his credit with a third in the 2024 Saudi Derby (G3) and a second in the 2024 Breeders' Cup Sprint.
