How to bet the 2026 Gallant Bob Stakes

A full field of three-year-olds will jaunt six furlongs on the main strip at Parx in Saturday’s $400,000 Gallant Bob (G2). California invader #10 Captivator (9-2) has upended two strong allowance fields while facing his elders this season in the Golden State, and I like him a lot here. Trained by John Sadler, the gelded son of Charlatan has fine gate speed in a cast that lacks a ton of pace. The draw, well off the rail, will give pilot Emisael Jaramillo options in the early stages of this heat as well. 

Gallant Bob Wagers

• $10 exacta 10 with 4,6,8 ($30)
• $.50-cent superfecta 10 with 4,6,8 with 4,6,8 with all ($27)

Captivator continues to train in strong fashion this season, and I love that his regular rider comes in for the ride. The Hronis color bearer is one of my favorite runners on the loaded card and will be a key on top in my wagers. 

I will tab three late-running horses to fill out the vertical exotics led by #4 Bravaro (8-1). One of four in the field for trainer Saffie Joseph, the bay son of Upstart was last seen coming through in a deep and lucrative stakes race at Charles Town and has proven to be more effective with the blinkers off. The New York-bred colt has improved his Brisnet Speed rating in a pair of races in succession, and I feel his best game is as a closing sprint runner overall. Paco Lopez will take the reins. 

#6 Dr. Kapur (8-1), also from the Joseph shedrow, most recently rallied for a nice allowance victory at Saratoga and fired a bullet four furlongs on the course in the interim. The Ken Ramsey homebred has run big in three of his four one-turn dashes in advance of his local debut and will have a fast pace to rally into, with Tyler Gaffalione retaining the mount. 

Steve Assmusen’s #8 Stradale (4-1) was a stakes winner on the green in the Empire State and returns to the main oval for this one. The bay son of Yaupon has plenty of solid dirt experience and often does his best work when stalking the tempo early and powering home late. He sports a 4-2-1-1 mark at six furlongs and will have Jose Ortiz on board once again.