BENSALEM, Pa. (Monday, September 17, 2018) - A field of 10 comprise a wide-open field in the Grade 3, $300,000 Gallant Bob for 3-year-olds at six furlongs on the main track. Trainer Jason Servis will once again cut back distance for his colt Firenze Fire after his third place finish in the seven furlong Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes on August 25 at Saratoga. It was his first start after closing to win the mile-long Grade 3 Dwyer by nine lengths on July 7 at Belmont Park after finishing 11th in the Kentucky Derby on May 5. The son of Poseidon's Warrior began his season with a victory in the Jerome Stakes on January 13 at Aqueduct, then finished second in the Grade 3 Withers. Two fourth place finishes in the Grade 3 Gotham and Grade 2 Wood Memorial earned the colt enough points to start in the Kentucky Derby on May 5 where he finished 11th.
The Gallant Bob Stakes is part of the the Pennsylvania Derby & Cotillion Stakes Day program and will be broadcast live on NBC Sports Philadelphia from 4:30 pm to 6pm EST. The Gallant Bob is race 9 of a 13-race day card with post-time of 4:15 pm.
Firenze Fire will try to display his speed from the outside post 10 under Irad Ortiz Jr. and installed as the morning line favorite at 2-1.
Seven Trumpets tries to break through his recent streak of runner-up finishes and land in the winners' circle for trainer Dale Romans after closing to fall short behind stablemate Promises Fulfilled in the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes. His previous effort left him as the distant second place finisher behind Firenze Fire's nine length romp in the Dwyer.
The Kentucky-bred colt by Morning Line will try to win his first graded stakes under Robby Albarado from post 3 at 12-1.
Trainer Chad Brown will send a pair to challenge the field led by Engage (4-1), who is in search of his first graded stakes victory this year after ending his 2-year-old season with a win in the Grade 3 Futurity Stakes on November 14 at Belmont Park. Second in the Grade 3 Bay Shore Stakes on January 7 at Aqueduct, a drop and victory in the Gold Fever at Belmont Park led to two runner-up finishes in the Grade 2 Woody Stephens at Belmont Park and Grade 3 Amsterdam Stakes at Saratoga respectively. The Kentucky-bred colt by Into Mischief then finished fourth behind Firenze Fire in the H. Allen Jerkens.
Stablemate Earned Success has displayed a strong late foot through four career starts thus far, and faces graded stakes competition for the first time after winning two consecutive allowance starts at Monmouth Park.
Engage will break from post 4 with Jose Ortiz, and Earned Success draws post 6 with Luis Saez aboard at 10-1.
Maryland-bred Still Having Fun ships in from Laurel Park with the hopes of adding a second graded stakes win to his credit after he won the Grade 2 Woody Stephens by 1 1/4 lengths on June 9 at Belmont Park. The colt by Old Fashioned returned with a fifth place finish in the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes for trainer Timothy O'Keefe, and will try to rebound under Joel Rosario from the rail at 12-1.
War Giant (8-1) will try to remain undefeated through four starts this year after breaking his maiden on May 3 at Gulfstream Park before adding an allowance victory and the Carry Back Stakes to his credit. Trainer Jorge Navarro will team with jockey Emisael Jaramillo who will pilot the colt by Data Link from post 7.
Rounding out the field in the Gallant Bob are: Forced (6-1) for trainer Miguel Vera and Hall of Fame rider Edgar Prado from post 2; Smooth B (15-1) for trainer Robert Reid and jockey Frankie Pennington from post 5; Noble Commander (15-1) for trainer Mark Casse and Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez from post 8 and Whereshetoldmetogo (10-1) for trainer Anthony Pecoraro and jockey Jeremy Rose from post 9.
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