The story around Shisospicy took a reassuring turn this week, with the South Florida-based champion female sprinter of 2025 back in full health after an infection briefly interrupted her winter campaign. Connections had been forced to abandon a planned trip to Saudi Arabia, but there is renewed confidence around the millionaire filly as the spring season gathers momentum at Gulfstream Park.
Trainer Jose D’Angelo reported that the 4-year-old daughter of Mitole has returned to her old self following a standout 2025 campaign that saw her win five of seven starts. Her year began with an optional claiming allowance victory in February at Gulfstream and reached its high point in November when she defeated males in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar Racetrack.
“Shisospicy, she’s perfect now,” D’Angelo said. “I don’t think that we have enough time to prepare in the way that we would like to go to Dubai, so we are on standby with her.”
While Dubai may come too soon, the filly remains very much at the forefront of the stable’s plans for the year ahead.
Bentornato Set for Dubai Challenge
Stablemate Bentornato, a Grade 1-winning colt campaigned by Leon King Stable Corp. and Michael and Jules Iavarone, remains on course for international travel. The powerful sprinter captured the Breeders’ Cup Sprint on the same card as Shisospicy and has trained forwardly since mid-January at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream’s satellite base in Palm Beach County.
Most recently, Bentornato breezed a half-mile in 47.90 seconds on Feb. 14, the second-fastest move of 67 horses at the distance that morning.
“Bentornato is doing great. I’m very happy with his workout. We are planning to leave for Dubai on the 13th,” D’Angelo said, expressing confidence in both stable stars as the season unfolds.
Sterling Silver Chasing Graded Breakthrough
In the older mare division, millionaire Sterling Silver continues her determined pursuit of a graded triumph. The seven-year-old, owned by Mark Anderson, finished a strong second in the Inside Information Stakes on Pegasus World Cup Day and now targets the $175,000 Hurricane Bertie Stakes March 7 at Gulfstream Park.
Trained by Anthony Margotta Jr., Sterling Silver returned to the work tab with a half-mile breeze in 49.83 seconds on Feb. 15, her first move since her runner-up effort over seven furlongs.
“From a numbers standpoint, she’s right back up there. She ran a huge race. I was very happy with her. She’s just a hard knocker,” Margotta said. “She came out of the race good and she’s been training good, so that’s our next stop.”
Sterling Silver has long been a model of consistency, finishing second or third in seven of 15 prior graded attempts. In the 2023 Gallant Bloom Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack, she crossed the line first before being placed second for interference — a narrow footnote in an otherwise admirable résumé.
Margotta’s own story adds further depth. Having overcome addiction more than a decade ago, he is featured in an upcoming documentary, Brothers: A Story of Recovery, directed by Jason Romolo. The film also includes retired Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey and is expected to see public release later this spring.
“It’s going to make its way out there for everyone to see,” Romolo said. “We’ve already had a private screening for friends and family, and the response has been special.”
Mythical Regroups for Any Limit
Further down the card, Arindel’s talented three-year-old Mythical is set to cut back in trip for the $125,000 Any Limit Stakes on March 14 at Gulfstream Park. The Grade 3-winning homebred endured a frustrating afternoon when beaten favourite in the Forward Gal Stakes on Jan. 31 but remains highly regarded by trainer Jorge Delgado.
“I think the last race was a little unfortunate,” Delgado said. “She had a slow break for the first time in her career. There were a couple things that didn’t go the way we want, but everybody can have a bad day.”
Mythical closed her juvenile campaign with victory in the My Dear Girl division of the Florida Sire Stakes and owns five wins from seven starts, including the Adirondack Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. Delgado is confident she can rebound in familiar surroundings next month.
“She’s healthy and happy and as good as she was before the race,” he said. “We have no complaints. She’s been very solid for us.”
With Shisospicy back on track and several stablemates lining up for key spring targets, Gulfstream’s sprint division appears poised for a compelling few weeks.
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