Turf or dirt, it doesn't seem to matter to Kaleem Shah's Stradale.
Switching back to the main track after a grade 3 turf win, the son of Yaupon displayed his versatility by rallying in the stretch to capture the $400,000 Gallant Bob Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds by 1 1/4 lengths on the Sept. 19 Pennsylvania Derby (G1) card at Parx Racing.
It marked the initial graded stakes win on dirt for Stradale, who has won three of nine starts on the main track and has triumphed in four of 11 career starts for trainer Steve Asmussen.
"Steve always thought very highly of this horse, and I guess really the distance is the key. For him, it's 5 1/2 to 6 furlongs. That's the reason why Steve ran him in those shorter turf races. But he's really meant to be a good dirt horse. Hopefully he'll be one of the very good sprinters," Shah said.
Twice stakes-placed on dirt, Stradale was fifth after an opening quarter-mile in :21.78 before entering contention on the turn and charging to the lead shortly before the eighth pole under Jose Ortiz.
The final time for the 6 furlongs on a fast track was 1:09.83.
Stradale, the 8-5 favorite ($5.20), is out of the Stormy Atlantic mare Twitterpated and was bred by Richard Bremer and Cheryl Sprick. He was bought for $1.3 million at the 2025 Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale.
Ken Ramsey's Dr. Kapur (McKinzie ) was second by 1 3/4 lengths over Captivator (Charlatan ).
Video: Gallant Bob S. (G2)
Wild Vine powers to victory in Parx Mile
Wild Vine rocketed past the field on the final turn and powered to a commanding lead in midstretch to take the $300,000 Parx Dirt Mile Stakes on Saturday's undercard.
Ridden by Yedsit Hazlewood, the Pennsylvania-bred son of Red Vine rallied from sixth to open a 6-length lead at the eighth pole and cruised to a 2-length win in 1:36.37.
Wild Vine ($20.20) was coming off a second in the Mayor's Mile Stakes at Parx for trainer Jamie Ness.
He is owned by Super C Racing and Jagger and was bred by R R Equine Stables.
Bracket Buster (Vekoma ), the 1-2 favorite, was second and Warp Nine (Hightail ) third.
Video: Parx Dirt Mile S. (BT)
San Siro best in Greenwood Cup
In the $150,000 Greenwood Cup Stakes, San Siro ($8.60) took charge on the final turn and cruised to a 4 1/4-length victory in the 1 1/2-mile stakes.
Parchment Party, the 3-5 favorite, closed ground in the stretch to take second.
Trained by Brendan Walsh, the Classic Empire gelding is owned by Andrew Farm, Mountmellick Farm, Ocean Reef Racing, White Mountain Stables, and Bryan Reed.
He was bred in Kentucky by Frankfort Park Farm, Bemart, Equinow, Valle Falcone, and K. Byrne.
