Our questions are answered by the Venezuelan trainer who is enjoying a breakthrough season with a memorable Breeders’ Cup double via Shisospicy and Bentornato
The name Jose D'Angelo might have been bubbling under the radar for a while, but it came to the surface in explosive fashion this month when the trainer saddled two breakout winners at the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar – all within the space of 40 minutes.
Only the legendary Bob Baffert matched his haul at the two-day extravaganza, which says plenty about the talents of D'Angelo, who left his native Venezuela for Florida in 2019 and had quietly made a name for himself before Shisospicy (Turf Sprint) and Bentornato (Sprint) struck on the biggest stage.
Dreaming of top hats and Harry Potter – interview with trainer Jose D’Angelo
The 35-year-old is the son of Francisco ‘Kiko’ D’Angelo, leading trainer in Venezuela on multiple occasions. Jose enjoyed his first Graded success only last year thanks to No More Time, although by then he had forged a reputation as a capable operator whose Jesus' Team was third in the 2020 Preakness Stakes before second places in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and Pegasus World Cup.
D’Angelo, who studied business administration at university for two years before dropping out, is also happy to think outside the box as demonstrated by a Royal Ascot raid last year with Gabaldon, who was second in the Windsor Castle Stakes.
He now sits just outside the top ten trainers in the US prize-money list for 2025.
Which racing figure past or present do you most admire?
Firstly my father Francisco, who was champion trainer in Venezuela. He taught me everything and I feel he prepared me so well for what is happening today. We’re working together now and he’s made sure that, since I was a kid, I had all the tools to do the job, from respecting the horse to dealing with owners in good and bad situations.
There are also big names like Bob Baffert (right) and Todd Pletcher, who have achieved everything. They’re good to me and I feel blessed I can compete with them now.
Which is your favourite venue, and race, anywhere in the world?
I love the Breeders’ Cup and love it even more because we won there this year, which was brilliant but I also enjoy Royal Ascot a lot – I feel I have to win there! That is one of my goals and we came close last year when Gabaldon was second in the Windsor Castle, and Shisospicy also ran in the Commonwealth Cup this summer.
I must mention Dubai World Cup night as well. It’s a special evening under the floodlights, while we have some beautiful tracks in America including Keeneland, and Saratoga along with the ones in California.
Who is your favourite racehorse and why?
I adore fast horses and I think everybody does, but I’ll go with Beholder, who was a champion for Richard Mandella and won three times at the Breeders’ Cup. I think my favourite race of all-time is her Breeders’ Cup clash in the Distaff with Songbird in 2016. I must have watched the replay so many times. I was lucky enough this year to go to Spendthrift Farm and meet her, which was amazing.
What is your fondest memory in racing?
I have so many as I was born and raised in the barn, and I love horse racing. It’s the only sport for me as I don’t like soccer or baseball or anything else, just racing. In Venezuela we run horses on the weekends, so, as a child, I would be waiting all week to go to the races on a Saturday and Sunday. I would wait so much and remember being so excited about it.
If you could change one thing in racing, what would it be?
I don’t think I’d change much because if we change something or change things too much we could lose the essence of the sport. It’s exciting because nobody knows who’s going to win or who’s going to be the best horse. There are so many things to figure out and I think racing is unique in that respect. It’s what makes it special – it’s so unpredictable.
Jose D’Angelo was speaking to James Burn
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