Sadler shipping Captivator cross-country for Gallant Bob

A sprint stakes restricted to 3-year-olds with a good purse and absent Englishman is awfully enticing to horsemen. So, it comes as no surprise that a dozen 3-year-olds were entered in Saturday’s Grade 2, $400,000 Gallant Bob Stakes at Parx, one of six stakes on the undercard of the track’s signature Grade 1 events, the Pennsylvania Derby and Cotillion.

The six-furlong Gallant Bob drew the interest of California-based trainer John Sadler, who has shipped Captivator cross-country for what will be just the second horse Sadler has run at the Bensalem, Pa., track. In 2014, Candy Boy finished third in the Pennsylvania Derby.

Captivator, a son of Charlatan, is 2 for 2 this year, defeating older horses in a pair of allowance races, one at Santa Anita, one at Del Mar. Those wins came after a significant layoff following last December’s Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity, in which Captivator was pulled up before finishing the race.

During his layoff, Captivator was gelded – he had been a ridgling – and underwent corrective throat surgery, according to Sadler.

“His maiden win was in an auction race [in November] but the way he did it, it was a little better than the average one of those,” Sadler said. “His two wins this year were good, tough older horses in there, a couple of [Bob] Baffert’s. They were pretty impressive wins. He’s got a good style to go out of state.”

Captivator, in his first allowance race, won on the lead. In his second, he showed the ability to sit just off the pace. Captivator is drawn in post 10 and will have regular rider Emisael Jaramillo in town to ride.

“He’s an improving 3-year-old, looking for a good pot for straight [3-year-olds],” Sadler said. “There’s a lot of them that are just kind of flung in there a little bit. I think my horse has a good chance.”

Though Stradale is coming off a victory in the Grade 3 Mahony on turf at Saratoga, trainer Steve Asmussen still views the son of Yaupon as a better dirt horse.

“The distance had everything to do with [running on] the turf,” Asmussen said. “I love the horse three-quarters on dirt. I think he’s going to turn into a serious dirt sprinter.”

Saffie Joseph Jr. entered a quartet of runners, but said Thursday that Bravaro, winner of the Robert Hilton Stakes at Charles Town on Aug. 28, would scratch. Joseph feels Bravaro needs more time and is targeting the $200,000 Dwyer at Belmont on Nov. 7.

Langvad finished second to Bravaro in the Hilton but Joseph said he came out of his race better than did Bravaro.

“He ran a big race last time,” Joseph said. “Bravaro beat him but I thought he was tenacious. It’s how they come out of the race energy-wise; Bravaro was more tired out of the race.”

Ramajay is coming out of a runner-up finish in an allowance at Saratoga on Aug. 5. Sharons Beach, who beat Ramajay, came back to win the St. Louis Derby. Ramajay has to contend with the rail post, but he does have Flavien Prat aboard.

Dr. Kapur is coming out of a first-level allowance win at Saratoga, where he just got up late. He appears to have altered his running style from last year, when he raced more forward.

“He’s definitely back in top form. If he doesn’t give himself too much to do, he’s training well enough to run well,” said Joseph, who has Tyler Gaffalione to ride from post 6.

Amberjack finished 29 3/4 lengths behind Englishman in the Jerkens but came back eight days later to win an allowance at Monmouth and is now wheeling back again on short rest.

The main local hope is Mailata, who is 4 for 7 at Parx, including an upset as the longest shot on the board in the PTHA President’s Stakes on Aug. 18. My Boy Star, Ryan’s Run, N. Y. Finest, and Tallmar complete the field.