After being bottled up mid-stretch, City of Weston and jockey Paco Lopez found room along the rail to rally past four horses and register a 30-1 shocker in the $300,000 Gallant Bob Stakes (gr. III) Saturday, Sept. 21 at Parx Racing (VIDEO).
Cloud Nine Lumoni's 3-year-old Holy Bull colt completed the six-furlong test for 3-year-olds in 1:09.63 on a fast track to register a three-quarter-length victory over 2-1 favorite Clearly Now to secure the first graded stakes win of his career.
The victory was the first for City of Weston since April 27 when he completed a three-race win streak with a victory in the Big Drama Stakes at Calder Race Course. That win followed a stakes victory at Tampa Bay Downs and an allowance-optional claiming race score at Gulfstream Park.
The second graded stakes winner for trainer Antonio Sano, who also conditioned 2011 Azalea Stakes (gr. III) winner Devilish Lady, City of Weston entered off a runner-up finish in the Hard Spun Stakes Aug. 5 at Delaware Park.
In the Gallant Bob, City of Weston rated off the pace as Black Hornet enjoyed a clear lead through a quarter-mile in :21.43 and a half-mile in :43.37. Midway in the turn, Swale Stakes (gr. III) winner Clearly Now launched his move wide for jockey Luis Saez while Lopez looked for room in the two path while racing fourth.
Clearly Now passed the eventual winner in the stretch but once City of Weston found room inside he surged to the wire for a three-quarter-length victory. City of Weston returned $63 to win $20.80 to place, and $8 to show. Clearly Now paid $4 and $3.20 while Black Hornet held third and returned $5.60 to show.
Bred in Florida by Haras Gran Derby, City of Weston is the first stakes winner out of the Souvenir Copy mare How About Datt.
City of Weston and jockey Paco Lopez upset the Gallant Bob Stakes.
Barbara Weidl/EQUI-PHOTO