BY BROCK SHERIDAN

First run as a handicap in 1979 and run 32 times since, the Gallant Bob Stakes at Parx Racing has 11 times been won by Florida-breds including the last two. Bentornato topped a Sunshine State trifecta with runner-up Sunny Breeze and Buccherino in 2024 and Damon’s Mound won in 2023.

Neoequos and Mad House attempt to make it three-in-a-row for Florida-breds Saturday in this year’s renewal of the $400,000 Gallant Bob (Grade 2) for 10 sophomores sprinting six furlongs. 

The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained Neoequos is the 5-2 second choice on the morning line while Mad House is rated at 6-1 for trainer David VanWinkle. Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has entered Barnes, the 2-1 favorite in the program.

The well-traveled Neoequos looks for his second stakes victory in his last three races as he appears at his sixth different track in his eighth start this year.

Neoequos won the $95,000 Jersey Shore by nearly four lengths going six furlongs at Monmouth Park on July 18 before finishing second in the $500,000 Robert Hilton Memorial (Listed) at Charles Town Races on Aug. 22. With Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard, Neoequos stumbled at the start of the Hilton then battled on the front end with Faster Gator before 9-1 longshot Barbadian Runner rallied from seventh to win by two-and-a-half lengths.

 

The tenacious Neoequos started the year against some of the best of his class, finishing third in both the Coolmore Fountain of Youth (G2) won by Sovereignty on March 1 and in the Curlin Florida Derby presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa (G1) won by Tappen Street on March 29, both at Gulfstream Park. 

He then finished off the board in two Grade 1 starts in the Kentucky Derby Derby presented by Woodford Reserve on May 3 and in the Woody Stephens presented by Mohegan Sun at Saratoga Race Course on June 7 before bouncing back in the Jersey Shore.

Neoequos has won three with three seconds and two thirds in 11 starts while earning $450,050 for owners C Two Racing Stable, Ian Parsard, Shining Stables LLC, Stefania Farms LLC, Ken T. Reimer, Paul Braverman and Timothy Pinch. He is by Pleasant Acres Stallions’ Neolithic out of Bold Birdie, by Birdstone and was bred in Florida by Helen Barbazon, Joseph Barbazon and Matalona Thoroughbreds LLC.

Joseph purchased him for $22,000 out of Lisa McGreevy’s Abbie Road Farm consignment at the 2023 Ocala Breeders’ Sales October Sale of yearlings.

Irad Ortiz Jr. gets the return mount and they have drawn the outside post 10.

Mad House looks for his first stakes victory after winning his last three races, all at Canterbury Downs.

Since breaking his maiden by 11 ½ lengths in his sixth start on June 29, Mad House won a six furlong allowance race by two-and-a-half lengths in the mud on July 23 then an upper level, $12,500 optional claiming by eight-and-a-quarter lengths on Aug. 23.

 

He has earned $64,315 for owner James Thares from three wins with a second and a third in eight starts. He is by Vekoma out of Stifled Heiress, by Munnings and was a $47,000 purchase by Thares at the 2024 OBS Spring Sale where he was consigned by Ciaran Dunne’s Wavertree Stables. 

Mad House has post seven and jockey Paco Lopez.

On the other side of the auction spectrum is Barnes, a $3.2 million purchase for owner Amr Zedan’s Zedan Racing Stable at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale.

Barnes won his first two starts, including the seven-furlong San Vincente (G2) at Santa Anita on Jan. 4 but has not won in three starts since. He was third in the March 1 San Felipe (G2) then fifth in the April 5 Santa Anita Derby (G1), both won by Journalism. After a nearly six-month break, Barnes returned to finish third in the seven-furlong H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1) won by Patch Adams at Saratoga on Aug. 23 in his last race.

An earner of $319,000, Barnes is by Into Mischief and will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione from post five.

Rounding out the field are Retribution with jockey Kendrick Carmouche, Gateskeeper with Gabriel Saez riding, Dylan Davis takes the call on Wax Box, Alchemism will be ridden by Frankie Pennington, Donut God will have Javier Castellano up, Fire Pit with Luis Saez piloting and Francisco Martinez will take the reins on Friday Surprise.

Other Florida-bred winners of the Gallant Bob are Rocky Knave (1985), Valid Trefaire (1999), Sea of Green (2001), Thunderello (2002), Abbondanza (2004), Pashito the Che (2009), Royal Currier (2011), City of Weston (2013) and Firenze Fire (2018).

Return to the September 18 issue of Wire to Wire