songbird
Unbeaten Songbird arrives Sept. 19 at Parx Racing for Sept. 24 Cotillion (gr. I) Taylor Ejdys/EQUI-PHOTOSongbird Tops Cotillion, PA Derby Draws 12
by Blood-Horse Staff
The stage was set for the biggest day of the year at Parx Racing when entries were taken and post positions drawn Sept. 19 for theCotillion Stakes (gr. I) and Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II), which anchor a five stakes program Sept. 24.
Songbird was a near-unanimous choice as champion 2-year-old filly in 2015, and the flashy filly will be favored to remain unbeaten against five rivals—three of them grade I or grade II winners—in the $1 million Cotillion.
The Pennsylvania Derby looms a pivotal showdown between Nyquist and Exaggerator, the first two finishers in both the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile and Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (both gr. I). Exaggerator has since gone on to win the Preakness Stakes and Haskell Invitational (both gr. I).
If both colts start, the purse of the Pennsylvania Derby increases by $250,000 to $1.25 million.
Unbeaten Songbird has continued to dominate her division with six more graded stakes wins this year, capped by smashing scores in the Coaching Club American Oaks and Alabama Stakes (both gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course that made her a perfect 10 for 10 for Rick Porter's Fox Hill Farm and Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.
Songbird, who had her final workout at Santa Anita Park on Sunday, was scheduled to arrive on the grounds at Parx at approximately 6:00 p.m. EDT Sept. 19. Set to oppose the prohibitive 1-2 morning-line favorite are the first two finishers from the Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I): Cathryn Sophia and Land Over Sea, and Acorn (gr. I) winner Carina Mia; and local runners Disco Rose and Queena Esther.
The 50th running of the Cotillion will be race 10, with post time scheduled for 4:55.
Nyquist won his first eight starts, taking the measure of Exaggerator three times along the way, but the latter turned the tables on that rival in the Preakness and Haskell. After respectively putting in their final workouts over the weekend at San Luis Rey Downstraining center and Churchill Downs, they were scheduled to ship to Parx Wednesday.
Nyquist, the 5-2 favorite, and Exaggerator, the 9-2 second choice, have combined to win 12 graded stakes and $8.75 million.
The Pennsylvania Derby attracted a full field of 12—the largest field since a dozen also ran in 2008—including three-time grade II winnerCupid; multiple graded stakes winner Gun Runner; and Awesome Slew, a dominating winner of the grade III Smarty Jones Sept. 5 at Parx.
The 40th Pennsylvania Derby will be race 11, with post time set for 5:45.
The owner and trainer of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont Stakes, Haskell and Travers winners are eligible for a $50,000 appearance bonus. Therefore, the connections of Nyquist would receive a total of $100,000, while Exaggerator's connections would receive $200,000 if they start.
Saturday's card also includes the $300,000 Gallant Bob Stakes (gr. III) for 3-year-old sprinters, the $150,000 Pennsylvania Derby Champion Stakes, honoring last year's Pa. Derby winner Frosted; and the $100,000 Alphabet Soup Handicap for state-bred turf runners.
Gates open at 10:00 Saturday morning, and first post is 12:25.
Cotillion S. (gr. I)
Parx Racing, Saturday, 9/24, race 10
$1,000,000, 3yo, f, 8.5f (dirt), 4:55 PM (local)
| P# PP | Horse, Sire, Age/Sex, Jockey, Owner | Wgt M/L |
|---|---|---|
| NA 1 | Carina Mia (KY) Malibu Moon, 3/f, J–Julien R. Leparoux, O–Three Chimneys Farm | 124 5/1 |
| NA 2 | Cathryn Sophia (MD) Street Boss, 3/f, J–Javier Castellano, O–Cash is King LLC | 124 5/2 |
| NA 3 | Disco Rose (PA) Weigelia, 3/f, J–Edwin Rivera, O–LC Racing LLC | 117 20/1 |
| NA 4 | Land Over Sea (KY) Bellamy Road, 3/f, J–Mario Gutierrez, O–Reddam Racing LLC | 122 10/1 |
| NA 5 | Songbird (KY) Medaglia d'Oro, 3/f, J–Mike E. Smith, O–Fox Hill Farm | 124 1/2 |
| NA 6 | Queena Esther (FL) Roman Ruler, 3/f, J–Carol Cedeno, O–Big Monk Stable LLC | 117 30/1 |
Breeders: 1-Spendthrift Farm LLC; 2-Robert T Manfuso; 3-Wynoaks Farm, LLC & St.Omer's Farm; 4-Jack Swain III; 5-John Antonelli; 6-Chris Compton
Trainers: 1-William I. Mott; 2-John C. Servis; 3-Robert E. Reid, Jr.; 4-Doug F. O'Neill; 5-Jerry Hollendorfer; 6-Juan C. Vazquez
Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II)
Parx Racing, Saturday, 9/24, race 11
$1,250,000, 3yo, 9f (dirt), 5:45 PM (local)
| P# PP | Horse, Sire, Age/Sex, Jockey, Owner | Wgt M/L |
|---|---|---|
| NA 1 | Awesome Slew (FL) Awesome Again, 3/c, J–Paco Lopez, O–Live Oak Plantation | 122 10/1 |
| NA 2 | Exaggerator (KY) Curlin, 3/c, J–Kent J. Desormeaux, O–Big Chief Racing, LLC, Head of Plains Partners LLC, Rocker O Ranch, LLC et al. | 124 9/2 |
| NA 3 | Summer Revolution (KY) Summer Bird, 3/c, J–Mike E. Smith, O–Jeff Drown | 117 8/1 |
| NA 4 | Connect (KY) Curlin, 3/c, J–Javier Castellano, O–Paul P. Pompa, Jr. | 119 12/1 |
| NA 5 | Cupid (KY) Tapit, 3/c, J–Rafael Bejarano, O–Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith | 122 5/1 |
| NA 6 | Wild About Deb (KY) Eskendereya, 3/c, J–Tiago Josue Pereira, O–Marisa Lizza Racing | 117 20/1 |
| NA 7 | Gun Runner (KY) Candy Ride (ARG), 3/c, J–Florent Geroux, O–Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC, Three Chimneys Farm and Besilu Stables | 122 6/1 |
| NA 8 | My Man Sam (KY) Trappe Shot, 3/c, J–Julien R. Leparoux, O–Sheep Pond Partners, Newport Stables LLC and Bligh, Jay W. | 117 20/1 |
| NA 9 | Nyquist (KY) Uncle Mo, 3/c, J–Mario Gutierrez, O–Reddam Racing LLC | 124 5/2 |
| NA 10 | Sunny Ridge (NJ) Holy Bull, 3/g, J–Joe Bravo, O–Dennis A. Drazin | 122 12/1 |
| NA 11 | Discreet Lover (FL) Repent, 3/c, J–Jose Luis Flores, O–Trin-Brook Stables, Inc. | 117 30/1 |
| NA 12 | Hit It Once More (NY) Hard Spun, 3/c, J–Kendrick Carmouche, O–August Dawn Farm | 119 20/1 |
Breeders: 1-Live Oak Stud; 10-Dennis Drazin; 11-Woodford Thoroughbreds, LLC.; 12-JMJ Racing Stables, LLC; 2-Joseph B Murphy; 3-Camelia Casby; 4-Fox Straus KY; 5-JKG Thoroughbreds LLC; 6-Northwest Farms LLC; 7-Besilu Stables, LLC; 8-Jay W. Bligh; 9-Summerhill Farm
