Betting With, and Against, Bentornato in the Louisville Thoroughbred Society

A deep cast of 11 will speed six panels over the Churchill Downs main strip in Saturday’s $300,000 Louisville Thoroughbred Society S. Grade 2 winner #3 Bentornato (3-1), who checked in a fine runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) at Del Mar in November, will make his seasonal debut in this one for conditioner Jose D’Angelo. 

Bentornato – With

• $2 trifecta key 3 with 1,2,7,10 ($24)
• 50-cent superfecta 3 with 7,10 with 1,2,7,10 with all ($24)

Bentornato – Against

• $12 win and place #7 Little Ni ($24)
• $2 exacta box 1,2,7,10 ($24)

By Valiant Minister, the Florida-bred had a sharp juvenile campaign when going four-for-five in the Sunshine State while racking up a trio of stakes wins along the way. He commenced 2024 with a third in the lucrative Saudi Derby (G3) behind two exceptional runners, and he came out victorious in the Gallant Bob H. (G2) at Parx, which preceded his fine try at Del Mar. The four-year-old has trained in swift fashion at Saratoga since Aug. 1 and will be ready to run with Irad in the silks. This is not an easy comeback spot, however. 

In a race with an abundance of pace signed on, the winner could come from the second flight, and I’m intrigued with #7 Little Ni (12-1) at a price. Trained by Mark Casse, the gelded son of Mohaymen flashed considerable potential as a sophomore, and the gray came back with a pair of big allowance runs against some very nice horses at Saratoga this summer, with the last one resulting in a strong score. The gelding will need to improve to take down this stacked cast, but he could peak third off the shelf and also receive a great trip under Jose Ortiz. 

#10 Skelly (7-2) can be electric on his best day and is a must-use for Asmussen. The fleet son of Practical Joke is rarely beaten to the lead early, and he could potentially put his foes to rest if he clears without exerting too much energy. Kentucky-bred comes in fresh off a long string of morning moves and will have Luis Saez on board. 

Grade 2 winner #1 World Record (4-1) and #2 Roll On Big Joe (6-1), who bagged the Kelly’s Landing S. (G3) on the oval in June, are both logical additions in a fine rendition of this dash.