Gallant Bob Stakes – Grade II
PRX Race #13 6f Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $400.000 For Three Year Olds.

1 Tube Spankys Barn Ortiz J L 122 —

It is hard to discern what a true sprinter is here at HRP as these horses seem to run just as well over nine furlongs as five in a lot of cases. So here we have an on-pace winner over nine furlongs dropping back to six, not what you would normally look twice at in real life but here we only have to look at the 1.10 flat work to know he can run six furlongs. Whilst he can certainly work the distance, he has been less successful running it proving just a little one-paced at the end of his sprints and that is what may find him out today. Definite chance but he has been outside the top three in 12 of his 17 races so will need to start fast and finish fast today.

2 Burke Williams9 Pennington F 122 —

Sold the horse inside for $200.000 and bought this one for $24.000 and they meet here in an intriguing matchup. Lightly raced, he has won three and two of those in his last two after being dropped out of stakes races to find some confidence. A great draw, a Jockey that loves this track and has won on him before, this may just end up being the bolter.

3 Gold State Mb Stables Velazquez J R 122 —

With three entries in the race, Mb Stables is serious about winning this race. I have always had a really high opinion of this horse but his late finishing style on this race engine has led to some agonizing defeats and thrilling wins, with unfortunately the wins being far more sparse. I am surprised he takes this one on considering the mile race for $300.000 today that hasn’t attracted a stellar field but sometimes these closers can keep up over shorter trips better (for some reason) and with a strong five furlong work maybe that is what the master is planning.

4 Classical D J C Racing Stables Curtis B 122 —

Hasn’t been seeing out the longer trips so comes back to sprinting although you do feel he needs to find a little something to be a winning chance here.

5 Highway Robber Mb Stables Franco M 122 —

Mb Stables runs second, third and sixth from the Jerkins Memorial here and there was only a length between them in that race. This one was third after making the running but who knows where the race engine will put him today and we could easily see a completely different result. We can easily see that HRP inconsistency with the three stable runners as in the race before Balestier Road beat Highway Robber in the Amsterdam on the same track with a similar pace and draw. So, I mean it when I say there is no rhyme or reason as to what order they will finish in today, so if you like the Mb runners box them up in a trifecta.

6 Balestier Road Mb Stables Prat F 122 —

On the Amsterdam form has the beating of his stable mates, on the Jerkins form he doesn’t so this is very much a lottery even between the three stable mates. All have good enough draws so don’t ask me to sort out what order they will finish in today.

7 Brooklyn Bash First Flight Stable Gallardo A A 122 —

Another that has been over the longer trips but will no doubt be able to sprint like a seasoned sprinter as the works suggest. There really hasn’t been a bad effort this year with good efforts against the cream of his generation through the TC races and more recently in the WV Derby. Doesn’t win out of turn but I think this trip will suit him far better than the routes and he may just make top three again.

8 Ineedu2party Maxmillion Farm Roman K 122 —

Well the puzzle is complete here as the Jerkins Memorial winner takes on second third and sixth again and Maxmillin Farms will be hoping for a repeat, however unusual that is at HRP. He is probably the most sprintiest sprinter in this race as all the old TC failures look for a new career and that is probably what won him the Jerkins so there is no reason he cannot do the same again here.

9 Aggravated Jung Noblepark Lopez P 122 —

Only beaten a length in the Crosby has earned him another crack here although this looks a tall order from the car park draw. A solid sprinter he may not be bale to get across from his draw which will leave him vulnerable late.

SUMMARY

As usual these three year old sprints are a mix of true sprinters taking on TC failures and in good old HRP style there is never more than a cigarette paper between them. If Mb can find a way to launch Gold State from a bit closer to the pace I will have to take him turning the tables on Ineedu2party.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES