Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) runner-up Bentornato, scratched from the Dec. 26 Malibu Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park, has a sore left front foot, trainer Jose D'Angelo said.
The trainer said the 3-year-old sprinter showed a temperature in the foot Thursday morning, and "I have to do the right thing by him." D'Angelo believes the setback to be minor.
The son of Valiant Minister is scheduled to return to his customary base in South Florida Jan. 5, his trainer said.
The scratch of Leon King Stable's Bentornato, a millionaire who won the Gallant Bob Stakes (G2) at Parx Racing before a half-length defeat in the Breeders' Cup, and the scratch of the Brad Cox-trained Senior Officer, another traveler to the West Coast, reduced the Malibu field to six.
Discussing the other star of his stable, D'Angelo said Howard Wolowitz is scheduled to compete next year in the Middle East. After winning the Dec. 14 Holiday Cheer Stakes on Tapeta at Turfway Park, D'Angelo has him pointed toward the $2 million 1351 Turf Sprint (G2T) on the Saudi Cup (G1) undercard at King Abdulaziz Racetrack Feb. 22. The race is over the unique distance of 1,351 meters, a little longer than 6 1/2 furlongs.
"That's perfect for him," D'Angelo said.
This year Howard Wolowitz defeated fellow 3-year-olds in the Franklin-Simpson Stakes (G1T) at Kentucky Downs at 6 1/2 furlongs before a ninth-place finish in the five-furlong Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T).
