Parx: Well Spelled comes from last to win Gallant Bob

BENSALEM, Pa. - Trainer Ben Perkins wasn't thrilled to see his 3-year-old sprinter Well Spelled, under Pablo Fragoso, last and 13 lengths off the pace in the first part of Saturday's $300,000 Gallant Bob Handicap at Parx.

Until he saw that the first quarter was run in 21.41 seconds.

"I said at least he's going to have a shot, because it wasn't an easy 21-and-2," said Perkins, noting that there was a three-horse speed duel that included the multiple stakes winning Trinniberg.

Still last, but a bit closer turning for home, Well Spelled rallied down the center of the Parx track to pass Trinniberg by one-half length and win the Gallant Bob as a 14-1 outsider.

Trinniberg, who emerged from a half-mile run in 43.95 seconds with the lead, had to settle for second, one-half length ahead of Private Zone. Il Villano, Laurie's Rocket, Raging Daoust, Currency Swap, the 8-5 favorite, and Jake N Elwood completed the order of finish.

Well Spelled, a son of Spellbinder owned by GSP Racing Stable, won for the fourth time from 11 starts.

Fragoso said it wasn't his plan to be that far back early, but Well Spelled broke slowly and since the early fractions were so fast, the field ran away from him.

"He missed the break," Fragoso said. "Then I just took my time with him. Then he's running, giving me more confidence, running giving me more confidence. At the 2 1/2 [furlong marker] I kissed to him and he gave it to me."

Perkins said Well Spelled coming and thought "in the last 50 yards it was just a matter of whether he was going to get up."

Well Spelled covered six furlongs in 1:09.88 and returned $31.80 to win.

Perkins said he didn't know what would be next for Well Spelled, but didn't expect to go on to the Breeders' Cup Sprint.

Trinniberg, however, could be headed to the Sprint, according to owner/trainer Shivananda Parbhoo. Trinniberg bounced back from a ninth-place finish in the Grade 1 King's Bishop with an improved performance on Saturday, but the early fractions and the fact the Parx track was not kind to speed may have taken its toll late.

"He ran a good race, I can't complain," Parbhoo said. "If he comes back like he went into this race I will go to the Sprint."

Philly Ace takes Alphabet Soup

Philly Ace, second to Roadhog in the Robellino Stakes at Penn National last month, turned the tables on that rival, holding off Roadhog to win the $100,000 Alphabet Soup Handicap for Pennsylvania-breds by a nose.

It was the sixth win from 12 career starts for Philly Ace, a 4-year-old gelding by Smart Strike owned by Brushwood Stable and trained by Christophe Clement.

Kendrick Carmouche rode the winner, who rallied three wide in the stretch and just held on at the wire. Philly Ace covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.05 over firm turf and returned $3.60 as the 4-5 favorite.