Fast’ Pace Probable in Gallant Bob

Saturday’s GIII Gallant Bob S. could set up for a closer as a number of speedy sophomores line up in the six-panel test. Frank Calabrese homebred Fast Anna (Medaglia d’Oro) figures to take some beating as long as he doesn’t exert himself too much early. The son of champion Dreaming of Anna was an easy winner of the first two starts of his career at Gulfstream, and nearly ran away with the GI King’s Bishop S. at Saratoga Aug. 23, only to get reeled in on the wire by”TDN Rising Star” The Big Beast (Yes It’s True). Trainer Kathy Ritvo takes blinkers off Fast Anna for this, and the cut back to six furlongs from seven should also help the favorite carry his speed. Second choice on the morning line at 5-2 is fellow”Rising Star” Favorite Tale (Tale of the Cat). A perfect three-for-three over this strip to kick off his career, the PJG Stables colorbearer annexed Belmont’s May 4 Gold Fever S. over Pure Sensation (Zensational), but faded to 13th behind Bayern (Offlee Wild) in the June 7 GII Woody Stephens S. He just missed against subsequent GII Amsterdam S. winner Coup de Grace (Tapit) in Delaware’s July 5 Oh Say S., and was a head third in Saratoga’s grassy Quick Call S. July 24 behind the aforementioned Pure Sensation. The Guadalupe Preciado trainee was last seen finishing a close second to Prudhoe Bay (Songandaprayer) after covering more ground than that rival in Monmouth’s Aug. 16 GIII Jersey Shore S. Patricia Generazio homebred Pure Sensation has proven surprisingly rateable in two turf tries this summer–most recently a third in the one-mile Better Talk Now S. at the Spa Aug. 20–and would be well-served employing similar tactics back on the dirt here. TK Stables LLC’s Bump Start (Jump Start) is the only confirmed closer in the field, and is two-for-two in dirt sprints. He annexed the Danzig S. for state-breds at Penn National June 14, and cuts back off a fifth in the July 19 Ohio Derby.