|09.24.2022|7:52pm
Scaramouche and jockey John Velazquez annex the G2 Gallant Bob
By Nolan Clancy/Parx Racing
Nicholas Cammarano’s Scaramouche ran his Parx Racing winning streak to six with a victory in Saturday’s 29th running of the $300,000 Gallant Bob Stakes (G2).
Trained by Parx-based Guadalupe Preciado, the 3-year-old colt by Munnings broke from post 14 post to take the 6-furlong stakes in a 1:10.38 over the fast track.
Scaramouche, ridden by John Velasquez, sat just off the pace in fourth behind front runner Speaking, who covered the opening quarter mile in :21.97 with company from Little Vic and Lightening Larry.
Scaramouche joined the trio into the far turn, rounding them four-wide as they ran past the half in :45.03. Scaramouche found the lead with an eighth of a mile to go, and held off a late challenge from Of a Revolution, who saved ground early under Flavien Prat, to win by a half-length.
Runninsonofagun closed gamely to finish third under Luis Saez, while Nakatomi finished fourth under Joel Rosario. Witty, Speaking, Dance Code, Provocateur, Lightning Larry, Little Vic, Jelly Nougat, Alottahope, and Practical Coach completed the field.
The Gallant Bob, the 10th race on betPARX Pennsylvania Derby and Cotillion Stakes Day card at Parx Racing, marked the first graded stakes win for Cammarano and his 3-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding.
Winning owner Nicholas Cammarano Jr.: “It’s my first graded stakes win, so I’ve got to swallow it all. This is going to sink in eventually, but it’s just awesome. Lupe did such a great job with the horse, and the whole team we got has been really doing good. We were worried about being in the 14-post, but we had a good rider and he ran on.”
Winning trainer Guadalupe Preciado: “The way this horse has been running lately, we ran long one time, and he finished the same way as he does sprinting. If you look at the father Munnings, he’s got a lot of nice horses, but not many run past a mile.”
Winning jockey John Velazquez: “That was very good. That was a nice pick-up mount. The position that we had after he broke good it was enough and we waited to get a little more position. As soon as we got to the turn, we were three- or four-wide. I was coming through and I thought hopefully I could save a little ground and save a little horse and he’d have something down the lane, and he did.”
On outside post: “There was nothing we could, that was the position that we had. The 14 position, really all you can do is try and get a position and not lose too much ground, and then try to save a little bit.”
Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr (Of a Revolution, second): “He ran well and he got there, but a nice horse beat him. I’m proud of him. I think he handled the track and all, it’s just a good horse beat him. That horse kept running. He wasn’t stopping. Looks like the track is playing well. Some are winning on the inside. Some are winning on the outside today.”
Jockey Flavien Prat (Of a Revolution, second): “He ran super, a good race. He made a good move on the outside but just didn’t get there. We were happy with it.”
John Toscano Jr. (Runninsonofagun, third): “I can’t take it. It was brutal. At the three-eighths pole he had to practically stand up on him, he’s all the way back, then he had to drop him to the rail and he can’t get through on the rail. It was too much to overcome. He tries. He really tries. I’d like to claim 10 more like him if they’re out there somewhere. Hopefully we can find more.”
Jockey Luis Saez (Runninsonofagun, third): “He didn’t get a clean trip. He had a really rough trip. He clipped heels at one point, almost went down. Somebody hit him from behind. Then I tried to go to the rail but I was too far out. Had no choice. But he made a nice move.”
