Bravaro Takes on Sprinters in Gallant Bob Stakes

Bravaro , a classic hopeful earlier this season, will try to land the first graded stakes win of his career when he returns to sprinting in the $400,000 Gallant Bob Stakes (G2) Sept. 19 at Parx Racing.

The 6-furlong test for 3-year-olds has drawn an expected field of a dozen runners. 

Last October Bravaro defeated other New York-breds to win the 1-mile Sleepy Hollow Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack and he finished second to Nearly  in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) ahead of fourth-place finishes in both the Fountain of Youth (G2) and Wood Memorial (G2) stakes.

Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. for owners Albert Ciuffetelli, Stephanie Brennan, Shining Stables, BAG Racing Stables, and Paul Braverman, Bravaro enters off a half-length victory in the Robert Hilton Memorial Stakes contested at 7 furlongs over two turns at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races.

Now the son of Upstart   will cut back to 6 furlongs for the first time since a debut win nearly one year ago in September 2025 at Aqueduct.

Joseph has entered three other runners. Ramajay  will make his stakes debut when he starts from the inside with Flavien Prat up, who guided him to a close second in a starter optional claiming race last month at Saratoga Race Course. Stakes winner Langvad  will start from post 5 after finishing second to Bravaro in the Robert Hilton. Ken Ramsey's Dr. Kapur  enters off an Aug. 29 allowance win at Saratoga.

The lone graded stakes winner entered is Kaleem Shah's Stradale🔥 , who earned that status in his previous start—a narrow victory in the Mahony Stakes (G3T) sprinting on the turf at Saratoga.

The card highlighted by the Cotillion Stakes (G1) and Pennsylvania Derby (G1) will offer a total of eight stakes. Some of the horses to watch in those events include:

• Two-time grade 3 winner Haulin Ice  enters the $150,000 Liberty Bell Stakes for fillies and mares sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs off a runner-up finish in the Honorable Miss Stakes (G2) July 26 at Saratoga. The 5-year-old Arkansas-bred daughter of Coal Front   also is trained by Joseph, who has entered 15 horses for the 15-race card.
• Distance runners will grab the spotlight in the 1 1/2-mile Greenwood Cup Stakes, also offering a purse of $150,000. The race will see 9-5 morning-line favorite Parchment Party  break from the outside in the expected field of nine. The grade 3-winning son of Constitution   enters off a runner-up finish in the Birdstone Stakes last month at Saratoga.
• The $300,000 Parx Dirt Mile Stakes will see last year's Oklahoma Derby (G3) winner Bracket Buster  look for more success after a last-out, 15-length victory in the West Virginia Governor's Stakes at Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort to open his 4-year-old season.