BREEDERS' CUP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

November 1, 2025

Jose D'Angelo

Michael Iavarone

Jules Iavarone

Del Mar Fairgrounds

Sprint

Press Conference

Sprint

THE MODERATOR: In the interview room now with winning trainer Jose D'Angelo and winning trainer Jose D'Angelo, back-to-back wins for him. Jules and Michael Iavarone, who three days ago bought into this horse for 25 percent for $1 million.

Jose, let's start with you. Describe what it's been like the last 45 minutes winning two races back to back with Shisospicy and Bentornato.

JOSE D'ANGELO: Probably I don't know what's going on here. In two days when I wake up, I'm going to feel out everything. First I have to say thank you to God to have me here and all the results.

I would like to say thank you and congratulate my owners, horses, team for all the hard work, like, we put on these horses because we work it all the year with the ultimate goal to come here.

I would like to say thank you to Mike and Jules here in person because Mike call me probably one month ago showing interest in Bentornato. It's not easy to trust somebody, go in there, spend the money to stay here. I would like to say thank you to them for me and everything. I'm so happy to stay here.

THE MODERATOR: Obviously we couldn't get you in here because you had to saddle Bentornato after you won with Shisospicy. I wanted to ask you one question about her and then about Bentornato. With Shisospicy, just how satisfying is it for you to see a 3-year-old filly, running against older, take the track like that and perform like she did?

JOSE D'ANGELO: Yes, she's special filly since day one. When she lost (indiscernible) earlier this year, we won, the same day we (indiscernible) the championship meet. I never really was happy with it. I was a little sad thinking what's going on with her? Me like trainer, you know when your horse is training good, you know like fire her up.

So I started looking at her deeply and watching her. I got Rich, he saw her and say I think I have to try her on the grass. So I work just one time on the grass, to me it was so different. We put her on the other ones, and I told him after we work out we're going to Breeders' Cup.

He made me make a plan. In the plan what I ask of because probably too long for her. She's still on the field in America running on grass, and we won. So everything's working perfect.

Q. Speaking of things working out perfectly and having a plan, what was the plan with Bentornato being he'd been off for so long before that comeback race at Churchill and then to set it up for the win here?

JOSE D'ANGELO: This one was easier because we know that he handle good there. Since we scratch in Malibu, he is the kind of horse, like he won amazing, and he's still improving. You say he can improve more. I work with him at Santa Anita, and he definitely improve after Breeders' Cup (indiscernible). So we scratch him because first he's the horse, he was a little sore on the hoof. We gave enough time to him.

When he came back, he got sort of splints (indiscernible). We make one step back. Now we are here again. We prep the team for this race and work it perfect too.

THE MODERATOR: One more for Michael and Jules, and then I'll open it up for the media. Buying in for a horse 25 percent for $1 million at the Sale the other day, just describe what you thought of just that concept of having that Sale where you could buy a horse like this, a quarter share, and to see it pay off like this three days later.

MICHAEL IAVARONE: First off, we want to acknowledge a monumental accomplishment. Has there ever been a Breeders' Cup daily double? I know they had man oh man (indiscernible) day. We're going to have to come up with some slang for Jose.

I liked this horse for a while. I did reach out to Jose with interest, trying to buy in private. We weren't able to make a deal then. Then he came back and said the horse was going to go through the Sale and fractional ownership.

I talked it over with Jules. The big advantage of doing it so close to the race is, as we all know in this game, these horses are fragile. Every day you're on the racetrack, you take a good deep breath and take a good breathe out when they return safe. By buying him this close to the race, we knew he was sound. We knew he was ready.

How many times in life do you get to buy into the Breeders' Cup favorite four or five days before? Then I took one look at him in person, and I just -- he's a spectacular specimen. One of the most beautiful horses we've seen.

Q. Jose, plans going forward with the horse? I know it's soon, but anything you're thinking about?

JOSE D'ANGELO: We have plans already. Our plans are going to the Middle East with him. He really likes it over there. He lose over there against Forever Young that later lose the Derby by nothing and Book'em Danno that don't have to prove nothing in the country.

So our plan is to go there to Saudi and Dubai. And for sure, as I always say, horses make the plans, not us, but that's our plan.

Q. What was the reason behind the Churchill race? Was it just the timing?

JOSE D'ANGELO: Yes, we're scratching at Malibu. He was a little sore on the foot, and we bring him, and he have a little bruising. When he start training later, he got a little splint, so we have to rest him a little bit. He's a big boy. He's heavy. We have to go step by step.

That's why he trained all this summer at Saratoga, like Shisospicy, like Howard Wolowitz, and it worked perfect.