Gallant Bob Stakes (Grade 2)- $300.000 Purse
PRX- For Three Year Olds
Six Furlongs on the Dirt
September 21, 2019

At PRX, some of the best three year old sprinters will run in the 13th running of the Gallant Bob Stakes, which allows these horses to not compete against and enjoy their weight advantages against older horses. This will be the seventh time that the race is graded. Last year, Jkk Racing Stable earned the win with Lg The Menace, a still active horse who was seen early in the week running second in an BEL optional claimer. Let’s meet our field for this event!

#1- Fahrenheit (Mb Stables, ridden by R Bejarano)- Looking to pick up his first win since April, when he won the Grade 3 TX Mile. Followed that win up by looking nice at the Grade 1 Stephens, but since then it has been two finishes out of the money. There is a slight distance reduction for him here, so the trainer hopes that will be help him run better.

#2- Cucamonga (Tiratzo, ridden by M J Sanchez)- Earned a win last month in the $75.000 Jersey Shore out at MTH, and hopes to earn his first graded win here. He has been competitive in his two tries as a three year old, and did narrowly miss out on winning the Hutcheson Stakes at GP back in March.

#3- Fire N Fury (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by T Gaffalione)- This well bred horse has been seen mostly against NY-bred competition, and his claim to fame against them was winning an allowance at BEL. Ran third in the $250.000 Albany last month, but the race line itself does not particularly stand out. It will be his first sprint since April.

#4- So Profound (Asgar, ridden by A A Gallardo)- Lightly raced horse thus far, making just the fifth start of his career, and it will be the first time he runs in a stake of any type. His last two races are wins, each coming across the country at DMR. That optional claiming winner looks particularly impressive, so he does have the look of a budding talent.

#5- Strawberry Hill (Night Rider Stables, ridden by N Arroyo Jr)- Acquired by Night Rider in the June auction for $20.000, and would make his debut for his new trainer last month at the Spa, running second in a turf allowance. Most of his career has been on the grass, making the main question with him being how he adapts to the main track.

#6- Black Flags (La Canada Racehorses, ridden by A Bocachica)- A horse that has been hit and miss in recent starts, showing an inability to step up into Grade 1 competition, but will do quite well in smaller stakes. This would be one of those smaller stakes, and more of the same may just be good enough, especially if he runs here like he did in the Vigil Stakes at WO two back.

#7- Black Scorpion (John Henry, ridden by J R Velazquez)- Two starts ago, the Good Authority colt ran second in the Grade 1 Crosby, turning a 101 SRF in the process. That would be his last start for prior trainer Blushing Meadows, who sent him to John Henry for $350.000. The new trainer tried to get one more furlong out of him in the Obrien Stakes, and that seventh furlong looks like it did him in. Back to six, Black Scorpion is back as a threat.

#8- Sharp Azteca (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by J Bravo)- The second D J C entry has a bit of a win or nothing look to him. In nine starts, he has impressively won five races, but has not been in the money in any other race. His last two off the board efforts were running furlongs, so we can throw them out there. He’s 2-for-4 as a sprinter. Unfortunately for D J C, the track will (likely) be dry, so his 3-for-3 on off tracks can’t be tested.

#9- Salar de Uyuni- Scratched

#10- Prince Charlemagne (John Henry, ridden by J Talamo)- The last three race for this horse have seen him trying to go at least a mile, and that includes attempting the Grade 2 Dandy at SAR about two months ago. He was a non factor there, and may be happy to go back to sprinting. He has still, for his career, only won his maiden race and needs to show a little more at this level.

#11- Aggravating (Sharis Stables, ridden by Ro Maragh)- On the far outside, Aggravating will be looking to overcome a draw that is often aggravating for many. If we were just looking at his form, then there would plenty to like with three wins in his last five starts, including the $100.000 Kenora Stakes For Canadians in his last start. Likes to get out to the lead early, and that may make him all the more vulnerable with this post.

Prediction: 7-6-4-1

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES