Scaramouche overcomes wide post in Gallant Bob Stakes

BENSALEM, Pa. – Earlier this week, trainer Guadalupe Preciado lamented Scaramouche's post position in the Grade 2, $300,000 Gallant Bob Stakes after the gelding drew post 14 in the six-furlong dash for 3-year-olds.

"I went to the Breeders' Cup one year with Favorite Tale," Preciado said. "He had number 14. When do you see the Breeders' Cup Sprint run with 14 horses? Only that year."

Preciado still wonders what could have been with Favorite Tale, the 2014 Gallant Bob winner who finished third behind Runhappy and Private Zone in the 2015 Sprint.

Thanks to No Sabe Nada's morning defection, Scaramouche broke from the 13 stall in the Gallant Bob, but wide is wide, especially over a track that had been speed-friendly throughout the day.

Jockey John Velazquez allowed Scaramouche to fall into a nice rhythm, and they tapered in to prompt the pace four wide and outside of pacesetters Speaking, Little Vic, and Lightening Larry.

Those three blazed through an opening quarter in 21.97 seconds over the fast track, with Little Vic the first to drop anchor after a half-mile in 45.03.

Speaking, racing on his left lead, held on to inside the three-sixteenths pole, but Scaramouche was soon on top of him.

Scaramouche moved to the front and held off a late kick from Of a Revolution to prevail by a half-length in 1:10.38. He returned $20.20 to win as the sixth choice in the wagering, and got a 94 Beyer Speed Figure.

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Runninsonofagun was another two lengths behind in third. He was followed home by Nakatomi, Witty, Speaking, Dance Code, Provocateur, Lightening Larry, Little Vic, Jelly Nougat, Alottahope, and Practical Coach.

Scaramouche was bred in Kentucky by Stoneway Farm and is owned by Nicholas Cammarano Jr.

It's been a long road for Scaramouche, according to Cammarano and Preciado.

"We got him from Dr. Barry Eisaman in Ocala," Cammarano said. "He called Lupe and said he had a nice horse, but no one is looking at him."

"I asked him [Eisaman] what was wrong with him," Preciado said. "He told me he didn't breeze too fast and would go cheap. He told me he needed to be gelded."

Cammarano purchased Scaramouche for $20,000 at Ocala last June.

“We gelded him, left him there for a month or so, and he's a lot faster," Cammarano said with a laugh.

Scaramouche is bred both sides for speed. He is by Munnings from the family of Alfred G. Vanderbilt winner Diabolical. He has won 6 of 9 starts for earnings of $372,660.

No plans have been discussed for Scaramouche’s next start, although Preciado did mention he wouldn't mind giving him a break and plotting a 4-year-old campaign.

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