Gallant Son gets perfect trip in Jess Jackson victory

SANTA ROSA, Calif. – Gallant Son ($15.20), who always runs well fresh according to trainer Frank Lucarelli, won the $56,910 Jess Jackson Owner's Handicap at the Sonoma County Fair on Saturday in his first start since Dec. 28.

The 8-year-old Malabar Gold horse got a perfect stalking trip and outkicked the defending champ Ain’t No Other late to win the five-furlong turf race by a head in 56.85 seconds, just 0.38 over Ain’t No Other’s course record set last year. Moonshine Bay finished third another 1 1/4 lengths back.

Marino’s Wild Cat set the pace from the rail with Ain’t No Other applying pressure from just outside him. Cristobal Herrera sat Gallant Son in third, just where Lucarelli wanted him, and won a stirring duel down the stretch.

“He’s just a good horse,” said Lucarelli of the nine-time stakes winner who has won stakes every year since he was a 2-year-old in 2008 with the exception of 2012. “When he’s fresh, he’s the best, and I think sprinting is better for him.”

Lucarelli picked the Jess Jackson for his comeback because of the five-furlong distance.

The race allows trainers to select the weight they want to run at, and Lucarelli chose the high weight of 119, spotting Ain’t No Other and Ricardo Gonzalez 16 pounds.

“I understand weight, but I wasn’t concerned at five furlongs, and I wanted Cristobal to be comfortable,” Lucarelli said. “He’s been working him, and he rode a perfect race.”

Gonzalez credited Gallant Son with an excellent effort, adding, “My horse tried. He really likes this course, and he got a perfect trip.”

Lucarelli said he’d like to race Gallant Son twice more, then probably would retire him.

Gallant Son earned $32,200 for Randall and Rossi LLC to increase his lifetime earnings to $552,278 with 11 wins in 39 starts.