Cotillion and Pennsylvania Derby Picks

By Bob Hill,
TSV Staff Writer —-

Philadelphia’s Parx Racing is he center of the thoroughbred racing universe on Saturday, September 24, 2022. Some outstanding fillies and colts will be on the grounds to contest the Grade 1 Cotillion and the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby. Top trainers from across the county bring an outstanding collection of three-year-olds to these races which promise to be competitive and hopefully exciting.

Grade 1 Cotillion run at 1-1/16 Miles on the Main Track for Fillies 3yo

It’s hard to imagine this race unfolding without considerable speed displayed up front. Steve Asmussen’s Society (9) is a sprint winner drawn to the outside where she will get a free run to the front if that’s what jockey Flourent Geroux chooses to do. The Todd Pletcher trained Green Up (1) has drawn the rail, and she too possesses a record of forward placement and a two for two win mark at this distance. Irad Ortiz is aboard, and It’s doubtful he’ll let the leaders get out of touch with this post position. Bob Baffert’s Adare Manor (2) is drawn just outside Green Up, and she is typically near the front in her races. Mike Smith gets aboard her for the first time.

The presence of potential pace setters of the ability of that trio suggests to me that both Goddess of Fire (3) – another Pletcher trainee – and Secret Oath (6) will have plenty of pace to attack from their mid-to-back-pack placement. The Lucas trained Secret Oath doesn’t have to face Nest this time. Nest is the only filly to beat Secret Oath this year. Goddess of Fire with Johnny V aboard finished only a length behind Secret Oath last out in the Grade 1 Alabama last month at Saratoga. Gerrymander (5) and Shahama (7) will have to improve for Chad Brown and Todd Pletcher respectively, but both have run their best at this distance, and both show very good late closing ability.

I’m going to land on Goddess of Fire as my top pick. Todd Pletcher just seems to own this division of thoroughbred racing, and it is possible that Secret Oath’s busy schedule could bring her in just a little tired. Gerrymander has a great chance to hit the board, and I’ll round out my superfecta with Green Up. Picks: 3-6-5-1

Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby run at 1-1/8Miles on the Main Track

Wiinner of the Grade 1 Haskell, Cyberknife (5), has really emerged as a top 3yo since the Kentucky Derby. He set the pace and hung on for second when chasing Epicneter home in the Travers. The Brad Cox trainee is in top form and arguably could have been the ML favorite. Bob Baffert, who has sent out winners four times in this race in the past, ships Taiba (8) to Parx to try to make his win record grow to five. Installed as the 5-2 ML favorite, Taiba finished second to Cyberknife in the Haskell after leading near the wire. This is his second start off a long layoff after the Derby, and his work tab has a full clip of bullet workouts. Zandon (1) is the 5-1 third choice of the odds maker, and he finally gets to race without Epicenter to chase. He, Cyberknife, and Derby winner Rich Strike finished just more than five lengths behind Epicenter in the Travers.

Skippylongstockings (4) might have liked a wet track that he most likely will not see on Saturday. He offers great odds at 10-1, but he will have his hands full in this bunch. We the People (6) will be part of the pace scenario. White Abarrio (11) has not won outside of Florida, and his effort in the Haskell probably is a throw-out. A return to his spring form at Gulfstream would make him a contender for a spot in the exotics. Simplification (9) is another Florida-based runner, but unlike White Abarrio this guy is consistent and honest race after race. The Brad Cox trained Tawny Port (7) won the Ohio Derby, and any horse ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr. is dangerous. He ran very well in the Jim Dandy before skipping the Travers. He could be sitting on a very good race.

I seldom pick against a good Bob Baffert trainee, but I can’t resist the odds of Zandon, who may get overlooked in this race. I’m picking him on top by a small margin over Cyberknife and Taiba. Tawny Port is in the mix as a possible winner, and any of the above mentioned runners could fill out the top four or five spots. Picks: 1-8-5-7-9