Seize the Grey romps in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1)

2024 Pennsylvania Derby and Gallant Bob Stakes Results

Jaime Torres celebrates aboard Seize the Grey after winning the Pennsylvania Derby.

Date: 09/21/2024

The feature race on Saturday at Parx Racing near Philadelphia was the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G1) for 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles on the main track. Conditions were typical for mid September, with cloudy skies and temperatures in the low 80’s, the main track fast and the turf was firm (but turf races after race 3 were taken off). Dragoon Guard was sent off as the 5-2 favorite in the field of 11 off a 4 race win streak including the Indiana Derby (G3) and West Virginia Derby (G3). In to challenge him included 11-2 second choice Unmatched Wisdom, 7th in the Travers (G1) after winning the Curlin Stakes, and 4-1 third choice and Preakness (G1) winner Seize the Grey off a 4th place finish in the Jim Dandy (G2) after finishing 7th in the Belmont (G1).

Seize the Grey leads in the stretch.

Jockey Jaime Torres sent Seize the Grey to the front first time by through fractions of 23.89, 49.25, and 1:13.81 while pressed by 77-1 Just Step on It and stalked by Unmatched Wisdom. Turning for home, Just Step on It tired badly and was eased, as Seize the Grey continued to lead through 1 mile in 1:39.13. Kept to task by Torres, Seize the Grey dismissed late-running 5-1 fourth choice Stronghold to win by 3 3/4 lengths in 1:51.89. It was a head back to favorite Dragoon Guard third.

Also on the card was the Cotillion Stakes (G1) won by Thorpedo Anna plus the Parx Dirt Mile, Greenwood Cup, Miss Blue Tye Dye, Whistle Pig, and Plum Pretty Stakes.

Pgm  Horse               Jockey         Win   Place  Show
 2   Seize the Grey      Torres       10.60    5.20  3.20
11   Stronghold          Fresu                 6.40  4.20
 7   Dragoon Guard       Geroux                      3.20

Winning Time:  1:51.89

$2 Exacta 2-11               82.60
$0.50 Trifecta 2-11-7        61.60
$0.10 Superfecta 2-11-7-10  195.66

Results Chart

Left: Seize the Grey circles with his flower blanket. Winning trainer D. Wayne Lukas said, “When I walked out there for that picture, that was a shock, that damn thing (track surface) was deep. I was really surprised how deep it was and how well he handled it.”

Right: Seize the Grey parades for the fans with his blanket. Winning jockey Jaime Torres said, “He gave me the same feeling as the Preakness, the way he was moving and his ears. He was comfortable in there and I knew I was going to have a lot of horse at the end.”

Left: Seize the Grey in the paddock. Lukas added, “I told Jaime if he breaks smooth, don’t get cute, don’t get creative, let him run his race, if they run us down at the end so be it. I don’t want you to change anything, you may be third, you may be fourth, put [him] on the bit and let him run his race, don’t get creative. … When they threw up 49-and one, I felt pretty good.”

Right: Seize the Grey in the post parade. Lukas said, “I’m thinking (Breeders’ Cup Dirt) Mile, but they may think of something different (Classic). I think a mile and a quarter is well within his scope, especially on that track. The thing about Del Mar, when you turn for home, you’re 110 yards to the wire, bam you’re right there. If you’re ever going to get a mile and a quarter, you’ll get it there.”

Left: Second place finisher Stronghold in the paddock. Trainer Phil D’Amato said, “The speed on paper didn’t show up, they went [1:13.81]. Hats off to the Hall of Famer, his horse rebroke in midstretch. Just happy to hold on for second.”

Right: Third place finisher and beaten favorite Dragoon Guard in the post parade. Trainer Brad Cox said, “He’s a big horse that just didn’t get away quite as well as we expected or hoped. It was a good effort, just not the trip we needed to get the job done. They went 49-and-one, Seize the Grey, when you let him do that, he’s going to be hard to pass and he was.”

Left: Seize the Grey in the winner’s circle with all the MyRacehorse partners. Lukas added, “I don’t know if I’ve ever been involved with that many people (MyRacehorse partners) that are crying and hugging and jumping up and down. Racing has gotten callous a little bit, but not with these people; they’re driving all night to get here, hugging each other and crying, it’s unbelievable.”

Right: The Pennsylvania Derby trophy. Lukas added, “The thing about him is after the debacle in Saratoga he trained brilliantly ever since that race to here. He was doing it at home, when he got here, it never changed. He was really sharp every day, very sharp.”

Bentornato wins the Gallant Bob Stakes

The $400,000 Gallant Bob Stakes (G2) featured a field of 7 three-year-olds (after 1 scratch) sprinting 6 furlongs on the main track. Robert Hilton Memorial runner-up Bentornato was sent off as the even money choice over 9-5 second choice Buccherino, winner of the Salvatore M. DeBunda Sprint, and 13-2 third choice Maximus Meridus, second in the Salvatore M. DeBunda Sprint.

Jockey Jaime Rodriguez sent 18-1 Sunny Breeze to the lead out of the chute through fractions of 22.01 and 45.08 while pressed by Bentornato and stalked by 34-1 longest shot Alwaysintomischief. Into the stretch Sunny Breeze continued to lead through 5f in 57.24 but Bentornato under Irad Ortiz Jr. outfinished him to win by a neck in 1:09.92. It was a length back to Buccherino third.

Results Chart

Left: Bentornato in the winner’s circle. Winning trainer Jose D’Angelo said, “At the moment to run or to train, he’s very professional. That’s why I went over to Saudi with him because he’s all business. He helps to make things easier for you. This morning was different. He was acting up a little bit. He’s always easy to go into the van. Today, he was acting a little strange.”

Right: Bentornato heads back to the barn.

Smooth B wins the Turf Monster Stakes

The $250,000 Turf Monster Stakes was originally scheduled at 5 furlongs on turf as a Grade 3 but was run on the main track and downgraded to Listed stakes pending review. Nine horses scratched leaving just 5 in the gate with Don’t Close Your Eyes Stakes winner Jean Valjean sent off as the 3-5 favorite over 3-1 second choice Smooth B, winner of the Marshall Jenney Handicap, and 4-1 third choice Fore Harp, 4th in the Marshall Jenney.

5-1 Talented Man and Fore Harp dueled for the early lead through an opening quarter in 22.02 stalked by Smooth B. Into the lane, Smooth B came through on the rail to lead through 4f in 45.63. Kept to task by Mychel Sanchez, Smooth B drew off late to win by 4 1/2 lengths over Talented Man in 58.31. It was another 3 3/4 lengths back to favorite Jean Valjean third.

Results Chart

Left: Smooth B heads to the winner’s circle. Winning trainer Butch Reid said, “The old man had to show them how to do it. It was a little disappointing day so far today. I didn’t expect it was going to be off the turf until an hour ago. It certainly helped him. Him against a bunch of turf horses is a pretty good combination. Even though he handles the turf fine, I think he is a little bit better on the dirt. When it happened, it was a pretty good thing for us. It is so fantastic. He is the third horse to go over the million-dollar mark for me in the last two weeks. It has been a pretty good month for me. He gets a few extra cookies tomorrow. My wife Ginny feeds him the cookies.”

Right: Smooth B returns after the race Winning jockey Mychel Sanchez said, “He loves to be on the rail, loves the competition. With the one-hole, we liked it. I had a lot of horse. He feels good and hopefully they don’t retire him. He’s like wine. He’s a cool horse to ride. He likes to play around but he has a lot of body. He’s a cool, sound horse. It’s like he has to get his game-face on, like, ok, it’s time to go.”

Crisper wins the Alphabet Soup Stakes

Kicking off the stakes action on Saturday was the $100,000 Alphabet Soup Handicap for older Pennsylvania-breds going 1 1/16 miles on the turf. 22-1 Freedom Eagle went to the lead first time by through fractions of 23.20 and 48.27 while pressed by 3-1 second choice Fierce and Strong and 9-2 third choice Margin of Air. On the far turn Freedom Eagle was pulled up lame by jockey Frankie Pennington, as Fierce and Strong took over through 3/4 in 1:12.58. Into the lane, Fierce and Strong opened up a 2 1/2 length lead through 1 mile in 1:37.03 but 11-4 favorite Crisper, 7th early under Julio Hernandez, came out for room and rallied to win by 1/2 a length in 1:43.19. It was another 3 1/2 lengths back to Margin of Air third. Due to the injury sustained by Freedom Eagle, track management moved the remaining turf races to the main track.

Results Chart

Left: Crisper in the winner’s circle. The Tim Woolley trainee improved his record to 5 wins, 6 seconds, and 3 thirds in 21 starts, earning $283,126 for owner-breeder Ascoli Piceno Stables.

Right: Crisper returns after the race.

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