Even following Medina Spirit's announced defection from the $1 million Pennslyvania Derby (G1), a grade 1-winning 3-year-old colt remains on the Sept. 25 card at Parx Racing.
That top-level presence is not in the day's feature—where its anticipated favorite, Hot Rod Charlie, just missed notching an upper-tier score when disqualified for interference in the TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1). Instead, the existing grade 1 winner is in the $300,000 Gallant Bob Stakes (G2) in the form of ace 3-year-old sprinter Jackie's Warrior .
The three-time upper-level victor leads seven sophomores dashing six furlongs. After beating Life Is Good by a neck in the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 28, he could start at odds as short as 1-5. He breaks from the outside post under regular rider Joel Rosario.
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"I love his draw," said his trainer, Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen. "Hopefully all goes well, and it's the ideal prep for the Breeders' Cup."
Asmussen said he chose the Gallant Bob over the Vosburgh Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park Oct. 9, liking that it gives the colt more rest in the lead up to the Nov. 6. Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) at Del Mar.
"It's all about the timing. Sept. 25 will allow us to get him out to California in plenty of time," he said.
A start in the Gallant Bob also leaves him running back quicker after a demanding race last month, perhaps slightly increasing the chance of regression on Saturday. Jackie's Warrior also carries high weight of 126 pounds, spotting his rivals between four to six pounds apiece.
The 3-year-old son of Maclean's Music would appear to have some wiggle room. His bankroll of more than $1.3 million for owners Kirk and Judy Robison exceeds the combined earnings of his opponents.
Besides the Jerkens this year, he also took the Champagne Stakes (G1) and Runhappy Hopeful Stakes (G1) as a 2-year-old in his other top-level stakes victories. Other wins from the colt include the Saratoga Special Stakes Presented by Miller Lite (G2) as a juvenile and this year's Pat Day Mile Stakes Presented by LG&E and KU (G2) and Amsterdam Stakes (G2). All of seven of his career victories have been around one turn.
Three of his six rivals come off ungraded stakes victories. Bell Racing's Real Talk won the Jersey Shore Stakes Aug. 15 at Monmouth Park, Roseland Farm Stable's Pickin' Time took the New Jersey Breeders Handicap there in state-bred company, and Beren locally captured the Parx Summer Sprint Stakes for owners St. Omer's Farm and Christopher Feifarek Aug. 24.
Besides Jackie's Warrior, Pickin' Time is the only graded stakes winner in the Gallant Bob, having taken the Nashua Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack as a juvenile.
Newbomb, Awesome Gerry, and Marvalous Mike complete the field.
