BENSALEM, Pa. – The way Bentornato dragged two handlers into the Parx Racing paddock for Saturday’s Grade 2, $400,000 Gallant Bob Stakes indicated that the colt meant business. That worried trainer Jose D’Angelo a little bit. “At the moment to run or to train, he’s very professional,” D’Angelo said. “That’s why I went over to Saudi with him because he’s all business. He helps to make things easier for you. This morning was different. He was acting up a little bit. He’s always easy to go into the van. Today, he was acting a little strange.” D’Angelo needn’t have been concerned as Bentornato withstood race-long pressure from Sunny Breeze to win the six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds in 1:09.92 (101 Beyer Speed Figure) over the fast track. One of the expected speeds, Buccherino, was tardy from the gate, and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. decided to make the most of his rail post with Bentornato. They grabbed the lead, only to be immediately confronted by Sunny Breeze through fractions of 22.01 and 45.08. :: Bet with the Best! Get FREE All-Access PPs and Weekly Cashback when you wager on DRF Bets. D’Angelo believed the 23-second breather during the second quarter was the key to victory, and Bentornato always found just a bit more to deny Sunny Breeze by a neck. Buccherino acquitted himself quite nicely to finish third, a length behind the runner-up. Then came a troubled Maximus Meridius, Alwaysintomischief, Practially Dark and One Sharp Cookie. Awesome Ruta scratched. Bentornato paid $4 as the betting favorite. Bred in Florida by Tanma Corp., Bentornato was named the state’s champion 2-year-old male in 2023 after winning 4 of 5 starts, including three stakes races. Ambitiously placed in the Group 3 Saudi Derby for his 3-year-old debut, he battled hard for third behind top 3-year-olds Forever Young and Book’em Danno. After a freshening, Bentornato ran second around two turns in the Robert Hilton Memorial at Charles Town on Aug. 23, his final prep before the Gallant Bob. D’Angelo had an easy answer when asked whether he had plans in mind for his star sprinter. “Of course. My plan is the Breeders’ Cup with him.” *Parx Dirt Mile Coastal Mission, the pride of West Virginia, is the apple of trainer Jeff Runco’s eye. After all, he and his wife, Susan, bred the 5-year-old Great Notion gelding under their Coleswood Farm banner, and have campaigned Coastal Mission to 13 wins from 24 starts. In the $300,000 Parx Dirt Mile, Coastal Mission took advantage of a quick pace and a clear outside run to best a game Repo Rocks by a half-length in 1:40.49. Injunction finished another length back in third. Adero, Film Star and Concealed Carry completed the order of finish. Movisitor and Seven’s Eleven scratched. Coastal Mission (92 Beyer Speed Figure) returned $4.80 as the public’s choice. Injunction, Repo Rocks and longshot Concealed Carry raced three across the track through fractions of 23.43 and 46.82 second. Repo Rocks poked a head in front just outside the quarter pole but was soon challenged by Coastal Mission after six furlongs in 1:12.23. Coastal Mission had stretch momentum, and he stayed strong to deny a resurgent Repo Rocks. “He got off a little slow,” Runco said about the trip. “I thought he’d be a little closer, but he got in position. Once he leveled off, he did what he was supposed to do.” Multiple Grade 3-winner Repo Rocks impressed with his hard-trying performance. “A little different tactics than what I wanted to do,” said Repo Rocks’ trainer Jamie Ness. “That’s really not his thing. He hit the lead, and his ears were going up at the top of the lane like he was waiting for horses. The horse likes to pass horses, not go to the front.” As for Runco, he never gave up on Coastal Mission despite four recent losses. He told Daily Racing Form earlier this week that he felt Coastal Mission had a tough trip in his most recent start, a fourth-place finish in the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic. “He got far behind and outside. He was wide the whole race.” Runco debated whether to start Coastal Mission here or in next Saturday’s Grade 3, $250,000 Vosburgh Stakes at Belmont at the Big A. It’s fair to say he made a wise decision. As for a possible next race, Runco mentioned the Grade 3, $250,000 Forty Niner Stakes at seven furlongs at Belmont at the Big A on Oct. 26. Coastal Mission, a half-brother to multiple stakes-winner Lewisfield, has banked $954,153. *Parx Sprint Talk about a nightcap! In a race run in almost total darkness, Top Gunner scooted up the rail to outfinish Ninetyprcentmaddie in the $100,000 Parx Sprint for 3-year-olds and upward at six furlongs. Top Gunner was sharp in the opening quarter-mile under Flavien Prat and pushed the pace four wide as Twisted Ride, Super Chow and Ninetyprcentmaddie grappled through an opening quarter in 22.20 seconds. Prat got his mount to settle at a key juncture, however, and he rated the gelding back off the burgeoning speed duel. Super Chow went on with it after a half-mile clocking of 44.94 with Ninetyprcentmaddie just off his hip. Top Gunner dropped down to the two path, passed a tired Twisted Ride, altered course to the fence, and his mount did the rest. Under the wire, it was Top Gunner by 2 1/2 lengths over Ninetyprcentmaddie with late-kicking Veeson a nose back in third. Favored Super Chow faded to fourth, followed by Twisted Ride, Depoli, Praetorian Guard, Speedy Bolt and Gordian Knot. Recruiter and My Buddy B scratched. Top Gunner returned $10.80 to win as the co-third choice in the wagering. This was Top Gunner’s first start since he was claimed for $62,500 by trainer Brad Cox and owner Michael Dubb out of a third-place finish at Saratoga on Aug. 4. The 7-year-old had back class as he was a restricted stakes-winner at Churchill Downs in 2022, and was also Grade 2-placed at Keeneland. “My son, Blake, liked him at Saratoga, and thought we should claim him,” Cox said. “He worked it out with Jake Memolo, who works with Michael Dubb. I had a spot picked out for him at Aqueduct, but [Mike and Jake] wanted to run here, so I give them credit for wanting to run. Blake and my New York assistant [Dustin Dugas] have had their hands on him ever since we got him, and they both really, really liked him. He’s a hard-knocking horse.” Bred in Kentucky by Michael Talla, Top Gunner is by Into Mischief, and has won 7 of 30 starts for earnings of $591,979. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.