Damon's Mound, Ryvit clash again in Gallant Bob
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Damon’s Mound and Ryvit renew their rivalry in Saturday’s Grade 2, $400,000 Gallant Bob Stakes for 3-year-olds racing six furlongs at Parx.
Damon’s Mound won the first two starts of his career last summer, including the Grade 2 Saratoga Special. After faltering to sixth going two turns in the Grade 3 Iroquois, trainer Michelle Lovell gave the Girvin colt a break.
“It took him a bit to get him right back to where we wanted him,” Lovell said. “He ran a good second to a nice horse, Tumbarumba, in a [second-level allowance at Churchill on June 4]. “
Damon’s Mound was next wired by Ryvit over a sloppy going at Ellis Park. Lovell noted that was a “heavy track, and a race where nobody really changed positions.”
Damon’s Mound got his revenge on Ryvit when snapping a five-race losing streak with a pace-pressing victory in the Robert Hilton Memorial, going seven furlongs around two turns at Charles Town.
“I wasn’t sure if he was going to handle the turns because he’s such a big horse,” Lovell said. “It was a nice win.”
Ryvit reeled off four consecutive wins earlier this year, including stakes victories in Oaklawn’s Bachelor, Pimlico’s Grade 3 Chick Lang, and the Maxfield at Ellis. He broke poorly when beaten by the ill-fated New York Thunder in Saratoga’s Grade 2 Amsterdam, then might not have cared for the two-turn configuration at Charles Town in the Robert Hilton.
“I like him at three-quarters of a mile,” Asmussen said. “I’m just worried about the weather. I like his draw. Hopefully, he’s away well.”
Ryvit is very quick from the gate and looks like a strong pace presence on Saturday.
Lightly raced Nautical Star steps up in class following a victory in a first-level allowance over sloppy going at Gulfstream on Aug. 18.
“We bought him and decided to give him a shot in the Florida Derby,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. “That probably wasn’t the right choice. We regrouped, we gave him time, and he came back with a good prep. From then, we’ve been prepping for this race. I would think from that allowance race, he should move forward again.”
Joseph stated that Nautical Star “likes to make a run” from off the pace.
A strong local hope is Gordian Knot, who has won all three dirt starts this year for trainer Guadalupe Preciado. Gordian Knot tuned up for this start with two bullet five-eighths breezes at Parx. Mychel Sanchez pilots from the far outside post.
Ninetyprcentmaddie has won or placed in six stakes from 11 lifetime starts. He’ll cut back significantly in distance for trainer Butch Reid after finishing fifth of eight in the Grade 3 Smarty Jones behind Il Miracolo.
“He’s been flat the last couple races,” Reid said. “He was an accomplished sprinter earlier in his career. I always like the turnback. He didn’t draw a great post, but I think he’s going to finish full of run.”
Dreaming of Kona, a stakes winner on synthetic and dirt, returns to the main track after a failed turf experiment. Freedom Road races without blinkers as a new gelding. Praetorian Guard, second behind Gordian Knot last time out, is cross-entered Saturday at Churchill. Sir Lancelot brings speed to the race. Depoli completes the lineup.
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