R Disaster, who has been a hard-luck runner in graded stakes, will try to change her fortunes in the $250,000 Gallant Bloom Stakes (G2) Sept. 27 at Aqueduct Racetrack | BloodHorse.com Track Profile">Aqueduct Racetrack.
Three times the Awesome Slew bay came up a half-length or less short of graded glory. The most recent occurrence was the July 20 Honorable Miss Stakes (G2). She also came up a neck short in a pair of grade 3s—the Vagrancy Stakes (G3) and Hurricane Bertie Stakes (G3). The Vagrancy is the same distance (6 1/2 furlongs) and on the same track as the Gallant Bloom.
"She's run well in the 6 1/2 furlongs at Aqueduct," trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. "Originally we were going to go to Keeneland, but with this spot coming up, we thought that we could be the favorite. She's comfortable there and she's going in good order off the allowance win. Hopefully she'll run as consistent as she has in the past."
Consistency has been a hallmark of the 4-year-old filly, who has never finished worse than second in 11 starts (6-5-0).
Another seeking her first graded victory is Juddmonte homebred Impel. The Brad Cox trainee is looking to regain the form of early last year when she placed in three consecutive graded stakes, including the Ashland Stakes (G1).
While the daughter of Quality Road hasn't matched the Equibase Speed Figures of her earlier races, the results have been there as of late. She won an allowance optional claiming race at Churchill Downs followed by a triumphant run in the Groupie Doll Stakes her last time out at Ellis Park.
Millionaire New York-bred Sterling Silver returns to the dirt after a fourth-place effort in the Yaddo Stakes on the turf last month at Saratoga Race Course. The gray or roan filly has the most experience at the distance in the field of nine. Six times she's traveled 6 1/2 furlongs and twice she came away triumphant. The last time was a third-place finish in this race a year ago.
The daughter of Cupid also ran the 2023 and 2022 editions of the Gallant Bloom, finishing second and third, respectively. In the 2023 race, Sterling Silver finished first by four lengths but was disqualified to second because of interference down the stretch.
Joseph brings another contender, one he is looking to see if she can rise to the occasion. Street View comes in with new connections and makes her stakes debut under the banner of Miller Racing.
"She came in good form from the previous trainer (Steven Schauer)," Joseph said. "She's coming out of a decent allowance that she ran third. Now we're just giving her a shot to see if she could pick up a placing."
Rounding out the field are Patricia Ann, who is seeking her second win this year; the Linda Rice-owned and -trained All Class, who is making her stakes debut; Repole Stable's Scalable who returns from an eight-month layoff and will try the shortest distance in her 12-race career; Don Alberto Stable homebred Senza Parole, who is making her third career start; and Sunday Girl, a New York-bred stakes winner who twice has won at 6 1/2 furlongs on the Aqueduct dirt.
Belmont at the Big A, Saturday, September 27, 2025, Race 8Entries: Gallant Bloom S. (G2)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 R Disaster (FL) Jose L. Ortiz 123 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. - 2 Impel (KY) Flavien Prat 123 Brad H. Cox - 3 Patricia Ann (KY) Javier Castellano 121 Carlos F. Martin - 4 Scalable (KY) John R. Velazquez 123 Todd A. Pletcher - 5 Sterling Silver (NY) Junior Alvarado 123 William I. Mott - 6 All Class (FL) Kendrick Carmouche 121 Linda Rice - 7 Street View (KY) Manuel Franco 121 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. - 8 Senza Parole (KY) Dylan Davis 118 Chad C. Brown - 9 Sunday Girl (NY) Katie Davis 123 David P. Duggan -
