Gallant Bob Stakes – GII
$400.00 For Three Year Olds
6 Furlongs – Dirt
Parx – September 19, 2026

The Spring classics are over. The “Summer Derby” is in the rearview. With those distractions behind them, this season’s three-year-olds seek to find their places not only within their own age group but find where they will go as they move forward to tangle with older horses. That is why this field contained so many horses cutting back from those prestigious three year old route races. It was one of those horses, Silver Hurricane, who found himself in the winners circle at the end of the Gallant Bob. Will he make his mark as a sprinter going forward? It seems like he is legitimately versatile but on this day he was the top sprinter in this field. 

Winner: Silver Hurricane
Owner/Trainer: Mb Stables
Jockey: J.R. Velasquez
Breeder: Acber Farms (Cal) – Take The South Fork/Anarchista (Bronx Bomber)

Broke well and was put into the perfect stalking position on the rail behind early pacesetter Reciprocal Rubber. Was given his head at the quarter pole and responded eagerly. Took the lead with a furlong to go and drew off to a three quarter length win and his second graded stakes win.

Second: Starbright
Owner/Trainer: TwinTowersRacing
Jockey: T. Gaffalione
Breeder: Fractious (Cal) – Solar System/Strizzi (Creepy Palace)

Broke with the field but was taken back to allow others to carve out the early pace. Was still amongst the trailers at the top of the stretch but found a nice clear path along the inside to mount a nice stretch run to pass all of his rivals except the winner by the time they hit the wire. 

Third: Painted Ice
Owner/Trainer: Alydar Stables
Jockey: B. Curtis
Breeder: Alydar Stables (Pa) – Winter Book/Sadies Art (Con Artist)

Settled in mid-pack following behind the eventual winner. Began to make his move behind Silver Hurricane but was forced to swing wide at the top of the stretch as he was finding his best stride. Was gaining gradually but not dramatically on the winner and was just nipped for second at the wire by Starbright who was making a stronger run inside of him in a path that Painted Ice might have been better off taking. (I might be taking out my own recent jockey rage here)

Fourth: Ideal Hero
Owner/Trainer: Jkk Racing Stables
Jockey: F. Pennington
Breeder: Jkk Racing Stables – Laffin Hero/Rigi (Ideal Cherokee)

Initially broke on top but was taken back to settle into a good stalking position alongside eventual winner Silver Hurricane. Followed the early leaders Reciprocal Rubber and Control The Center three furlongs when he launched his bid seeming to get the jump on Silver Hurricane to his inside. Looked like the main threat but couldn’t find a strong enough kick to challenge for the win or hold off the strong closers for a better placing. 

Preview Pick: Silver Hurricane – Winner (Note – none of my other top four picks hit the board)

This was the third win in the Gallant Bob Stakes for Mb Stables who had previously won this race with Grond and Grande Geek back to back in 2020 and 2021. It was the first Gallant Bob win for jockey J.R. Velasquez. Silver Hurricane seems to never run a bad race and following several near miss second place finishes in graded stakes races he adds the Gallant Bob to his G1 Santa Anita Derby win and pushes his career earnings over $1,000.00 with this win. 

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES