Away from the seven-figure G1 contests, the stakes-heavy undercard at Parx on Saturday is packed with interest, with the rematch between Ryvit and Damon’s Mound in the G2 Gallant Bob top of the bill. The streaking sprinter Roses For Debra will be a warm order to make it five-for-five in 2023 in the G3 Turf Monster, while the smashing Saratoga winner Next takes on last year’s hero Ridin With Biden in the marathon G3 Greenwood Cup.
Gallant Bob Stakes
G2, $400,000, 6f dirt, 3yo, 4.35pm ET
In 2021 Steve Asmussen brought the champion Jackie’s Warrior to Parx to win the Gallant Bob at odds of 1-20. Now Asmussen is back for another try, and although this horse is not quite as good as the ‘Warrior’ the odds will be much better in Saturday’s race.
This is a retrieval mission for Asmussen’s front-running Ryvit (5-2), who has missed the board twice after racking up a five-streak that culminated in a comfortable score in a seven-furlong stakes at Ellis Park, when he had Damon’s Mound (4-1) four and three-quarter lengths back in fourth.
The cutback to six furlongs is a big positive for Ryvit but not for Damon’s Mound, last-time-out winner over seven in a stakes at Charles Town, in which Ryvit could never get to the front before finishing fifth.
The local boy Gordian Knot (5-1) is four-for-five here and steps up in grade for the first time after a hard-fought victory in a stakes over six and a half furlongs, when he turned back the late rush of Praetorian Guard (10-1) to win by a neck, with longshot Depoli (20-1) fourth, beaten another two and a quarter lengths.
Gordian Knot is 3lb better with those rivals today so should confirm the form, and trainer Guadalupe Preciado won this race last year with a similar type. Fellow Parx fan Ninetyprcentmaddie (10-1) has recorded all his four victories here, including two stakes, but the cutback to sprints puts him out of his comfort zone.
Irad Ortiz is an eyecatching booking for Nautical Star (9-2), who was never sighted in the 2023 G1 Florida Derby but bounced back on his first start since in a seven-furlong allowance at Gulfstream Park last month. The cutback is fine but the class hike is the question.
Freedom Road (12-1) has been gelded since his last start and also loses the blinkers. One of those moves will have to spark the improvement necessary to snap his zero-for-five count in stakes.
Gallant Bob Stakes Odds & Racing Pick
| Horse | Jockey | Horse Racing Odds by Jazzsports |
| Ninetyprcentmaddie | Paco Lopez | +1000 |
| Dreaming of Kona | Scott Spieth | +1000 |
| Freedom Road | Florent Geroux | +1200 |
| Damon’s Mound | Junior Alvarado | +400 |
| Nautical Star | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | +450 |
| Praetorian Guard | Dexter Haddock | +1000 |
| Sir Lancelot | John R. Velazquez | +600 |
| Depoli | Joseph Trejos | +2000 |
| Ryvit | Tyler Gaffalione | +250 |
| Gordian Knot | Mychel J. Sanchez | +500 |
The return to six furlongs is ideal for the trailblazing RYVIT, whose early pace can prove decisive.
Turf Monster Stakes
G3, $250,000, 5f turf, 3yo+, 3.01pm ET
A full field for the helter-skelter dash of the Turf Monster but on paper one horse stands out from the crowd, and the market speaks accordingly.
That horse is Roses For Debra (9-5), who is perfect in four starts in 2023 and hit the jackpot twice at Saratoga, first with an authoritative success in the G3 Caress over five and a half furlongs and then in a stakes over the same distance, when she was even more clinical in scorching home by three and a quarter lengths. She takes on males for the first time but that will not be an issue.
Nobody Listens (4-1) is riding a three-streak and should provide the favourite with a decent test after his stakes victory over course and distance, when he came late to nail Just Jeremy (8-1) by a half-length, with Boat’s A Rockin (12-1) – runner-up in this race 12 months ago – and Surprise Boss (20-1) second-last and last of eight respectively.
Another stakes-winner over course and distance is Talented Man (6-1), who made his breakthrough when going gate-to-wire and fighting hard to get home by a head, with Smooth B (8-1), who could not get racing room when he wanted it and rallied too late, a half-length back in third.
All That Magic (5-1) completed a four-timer when making his stakes breakthrough at Monmouth Park over five and a half furlongs, rolling coast-to-coast and hanging on grimly by a nose. More is needed but there may be more, while his barnmate Beren (8-1) reserves his best for this circuit but only on the main track, and the surface switch could be an issue.
Turf Monster Stakes Odds & Betting Prediction
| Horse | Jockey | Horse Racing Odds by Jazzsports |
| Beren | Frankie Pennington | +800 |
| Nobody Listens | Tyler Gaffalione | +400 |
| Smooth B | Mychel J. Sanchez | +800 |
| Roses for Debra | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | +180 |
| Determined Kingdom | Victor R. Carrasco | +600 |
| Just Jeremy | Franklin Gonzalez, Jr. | +800 |
| Surprise Boss | Trevor McCarthy | +2000 |
| All That Magic | Nik Juarez | +500 |
| Boat’s a Rockin | Tyler Conner | +1200 |
| Talented Man | Andy Hernandez | +600 |
| Five Dreams | Dexter Haddock | +1200 |
| Belt Parkway | Abner Adorno | +3000 |
Taking on males is a new twist for ROSES FOR DEBRA, but she has a class edge and can stretch her streak to five.
Greenwood Cup Stakes
G3, $200,000, 1m 4f dirt, 3yo+, 2.31pm ET
Two horses with bottomless reserves of stamina lead the way in the Greenwood Cup, with last year’s winner Ridin With Biden (3-1) bidding for his eighth victory at his hometown track.
Twelve months ago he got his own way on the lead and stuck to his guns to see it out by a length, with Forewarned (12-1) beaten 19 lengths into fifth. Ridin With Biden has maintained his strong form through 2023, with three wins here capped by a game score in an allowance over ten furlongs, when he turned back the persistent Calibrate (7-2) to get home by three-quarters of a length.
He will relish stretching out again but faces a stern test against the fast-improving Next (8-5), another front-runner who has demonstrated a rare talent for going long and brings a heap of class to the table.
A more conclusive defeat of Calibrate – two and a quarter lengths – in the 2023 G2 Brooklyn at Belmont Park over a mile and a half was followed by a barnstorming performance in a Saratoga stakes over a mile and three-quarters, when Next ran his rivals out of town in thrilling fashion.
He cruised by 11 and three-quarter lengths, arguably a career-best despite the race’s ungraded status, and in that mood there may be no holding him. A slow-motion duel for the lead with Ridin With Biden could be on the cards but Next can rate too.
Bear Oak (8-1) also made his mark at Saratoga, winning an allowance over a mile and three-sixteenths, but both the class hike and this marathon distance are big question marks, while Fowler Blue (10-1) finished two and three-quarter lengths behind Calibrate when they ran three-five in the 2023 G3 Monmouth Cup, and looks well held on the collateral form.
Greenwood Cup Stakes Odds & Racing Prediction
| Horse | Jockey | Horse Racing Odds by Jazzsports |
| Suigu Star | Jairo Rendon | +2000 |
| Fowler Blue | Edwin A. Maldonado | +1000 |
| Ridin With Biden | Paco Lopez | +300 |
| Calibrate | Ruben Silvera | +350 |
| My Imagination | Jeremy Laprida | +2000 |
| Next | Luan Machado | +160 |
| Forewarned | Dexter Haddock | +1200 |
| Bear Oak | Tyler Gaffalione | +800 |
If the stamina-rich NEXT is in the same groove as at Saratoga he will turn this into a one-horse show.
Check out the 2023 Gallant Bob Stakes & More Parx Graded Races Recap
Stay tuned for the latest Breeders’ Cup Odds. Check out the World’s major Racetrack Entries, and Horse Racing Results and don’t forget to Sign-up and get up to a 10% horse rebate. We offer the best rebate, check the Terms & Conditions here!
Raise your winning opportunities with our Horse Betting Guide. We have a guide for all levels! Beginners, Intermediate Handicappers!
Follow us on Social Media for more Gallant Bob & Parx Racing updates!