Having split decisions in recent months, Saturday will be the rubber match for Ryvit and Damon’s Mound as they headline a field of ten sophomore males entered in the Grade 2 Gallant Bob Stakes at Parx.
Trained by Steve Asmussen, Ryvit could go off a tepid choice in the $400,000 affair on the strength of three consecutive stakes victories at three different tracks earlier this year.
A winner of half of his ten-lifetime starts, the son of Competitive Edge could be back in a winning spot as he cuts back to 6-furlongs for Saturday’s assignment.
Having finished fourth behind Ryvit in the Maxfield Stakes in July, Damon’s Mound exacted his revenge last time with a brave score in the Robert Hilton Memorial Stakes going 7 furlongs at Charles Town.
A graded stakes winner at Saratoga as a juvenile, the Hilton was the Girvin colt’s first victory in five tries this year.
Local runner Gordian Knot comes into the Gallant Bob on a three-race winning streak for trainer Guadalupe Preciado.
A gelded son of Social Inclusion, and a Pennsylvania-bred, he has won four stakes races overall and is 4-for-5 at Parx.
Gallant Bob Stakes Predictions and Race Analysis
Ryvit
The morning line favorite off three straight stakes wins earlier this year, he has disappointed in his last two. Most recently, he faded down the stretch to finish fifth behind Damon’s Mound.
The cutback from seven to six panels should suit him, and there are reasons to believe he can bounce back here. In a race with plenty of speed, however, he will likely have no breathers on Saturday.
Off his class and strong record at the distance, he must be considered a real threat here, but as the favorite, I would like to take a shot to beat him.
Damon’s Mound
Trained by Michelle Lovell, this son of Girvin comes in off a big win in the $350,000 Robert Hilton Memorial Stakes at Charles Town four weeks ago. On a wet fast track, he battled all the way and pulled away late.
It was the second major win of his career, having won the Grade 2 Saratoga Special last year. It was also his first victory of 2023, but he looks to be rounding back into top form after a slow start to the season.
There is plenty of other speed in the race, but he has been able to pass horses in the stretch before. He is the one to beat on Saturday.
Nautical Star
This Saffie Joseph, Jr. charge has only made four career starts but has won two of them, including a sloppy track allowance race at Gulfstream Park in his most recent race.
That victory was his first start in 4 1/2 months after a rough go of it in the Grade 1 Florida Derby. A son of Dixie Chatter, he has won on a fast-racing surface, as well. He also likes to come from off the pace, which should help him in the Gallant Bob.
Clearly talented, he still needs to prove he can beat graded stakes competition, but I think he will do just that on Saturday. He is the top pick.
Sir Lancelot
In a race with plenty of speed, this son of Goldencents figures to be in the thick of things early on Saturday.
Still lightly raced, he comes into this one off a sharp allowance score on the grass at Colonial Downs. The surface switch should not be a problem, but the other speed in the race likely will provide serious pressure.
He’s talented and fast, but he does not look like a horse who wants to battle on the lead and then still be strong in the stretch. I am looking elsewhere.
Gordian Knot
With a record of six victories from eight career starts, it is apparent that this Pennsylvania-bred knows how to win. He’s won four of five at Parx, and his only career loss there came after a rough start.
He’s currently on a three-race winning streak and the last two have come against open company. Most recently, he was a game-winner of the Salvatore M. Debunda Sprint Stakes while going 6 1/2 furlongs.
This will be his toughest test to date, but the local runner is definitely a threat to add another win to his growing record.
Praetorian Guard
An experienced son of Speighster, he has found a home sprinting at Parx. After a series of races going around two turns, he has cut back in distance with solid success in the last three.
All coming over this racing surface, he has two wins and just missed getting there last time in the Debunda last time. He also should find plenty of early pace in here to set the table for his late rally.
There are clearly horses who have faced better competition than him, but as well as he is running right now, I have to consider him a threat here.
Dreaming of Kona
This Fast Anna colt is back to sprinting after attempting both longer races and turf this season. At the distance he has two wins and a third from only three starts, so this does appear to be his preferred trip.
Like many in the field, though, he likes to be a part of the early pace, and with all the speed in the race, this should prove a difficult task.
Considering the class of competition he has kept, I certainly cannot dismiss his chances on Saturday, but I do like a few others better.
Ninetyprcentmaddie
All of this one’s four-lifetime wins have come over the track at Parx, where he is 4-of-8 lifetime. Three of those wins came in his first three career starts, so he has only won once in the last eight.
He’s also been running around two turns of late against stakes company with only limited success. The good news is that he has kept good company.
If he enjoys the cutback in distance, he could be a factor here on class, but there are too many others to like to jump on his chances here.
Freedom Road
This son of Malibu Moon will be running as a gelding for the first time on Saturday and sometimes that surgery can improve a runner.
He has not had a sparkling career to date, but there are some performances in there to believe he has some talent.
He likes to sprint and he likes to rally, which should suit him well in this race with plenty of early speed. You could do worse with a longshot pick in this one.
Depolo
It took this son of Frosted eight tries to finally break his maiden and when he did, it was in maiden claiming.
He has improved of late, including a decent fourth in the Debunda last time out. He still looks a full cut below the best in here, however.
The Gallant Bob looks to be a wide-open race, but he looks like the most unlikely winner of the group.
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