Sept. 19 (UPI) — Former Triple Crown aspirants are in action all over the map in weekend horse racing, from Churchill Downs to Fairmount Park near St. Louis to Parx Racing near Philadelphia, and several of them stand a good chance to make it to the Breeders’ Cup.
Parx takes the center ring with a pair of $1 million Grade I races, the Pennsylvania Derby and the Cotillion Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. Parx and Churchill Downs have solid supporting heats, and Woodbine, Gulfstream Park, Aqueduct, Laurel Park and Los Alamitos all contribute.
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After last weekend’s festivities in Ireland and England, the global scene is relatively quiet.
Classic
Barnes, shown winning the San Vicente in January, tries sprinting in Saturday’s $400,000 Gallant Bob Stakes at Parx Racing. Photo by Benoit Photography, courtesy of Santa Anita
Saturday’s $1 million Grade I Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing features Baeza, Gosger and Goal Oriented in a field of 10. It’s hard to believe Baeza has yet to defeat winners, a misleading stat, as he has been second in the Grade I Santa Anita Derby and Grade II Jim Dandy and third in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont.
Only Sovereignty and Journalism have finished ahead of him in that four-race stretch, neither rival will be seen at Parx this weekend.
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Saturday’s $1 million Grade I Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing features Baeza, File Photo by John Sommers II/UPI
Gosger enters the Parx set piece with a similar tale of woe. After winning the Grade III Lexington at Keeneland, he’s finished second in the Preakness and the Grade I Haskell — both won by Journalism. Goal Oriented was fourth in the Preakness and third in the Haskell.
Also capable of making some noise in this Parx feature: Magnitude, Moplex, Big Truzz and the lightly raced David of Athens.
Fairmount Park celebrates its 100th birthday Friday with a potentially decent field for the $250,000 St. Louis Derby. The 11-horse field has Grade III West Virginia Derby winner, Grade II Louisiana Derby second and Kentucky Derby ninth Chunk of Gold; Delaware Derby winner Admiral Dennis; and undefeated Grade III Lecomte Stakes winner Disco Time, who’s been idle for eight months.
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It’s a potentially solid field because Chunk of Gold and Admiral Dennis, as well as Hypnus and Excite, are cross-entered in Saturday’s Bourbon Flight Stakes at Churchill Downs.
If the others stay home, it could be a lovely spot for Disco Time. He hasn’t raced since the Jan. 8 Lecomte, but trainer Brad Cox has the Not This Time colt sharp after a steady series of works at Churchill Downs.
Unless they go to Illinois, Chunk of Gold and Admiral Dennis look likely in Saturday’s $300,000 Bourbon Flight for 3-year-olds at Churchill Downs. Hypnus and Excite also invite a look if they end up in this spot.
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Yet another former Kentucky Derby participant, Catalytic (he finished 19th of 20 in 2024), returns for Saturday’s $300,000 Parx Dirt Mile. He looks about as good as any in the nine-horse field.
Saturday’s $200,000 Grade III Greenwood Cup at 1 1/2 miles at Parx Racing has seven very diverse contenders and is well worth a look.
Distaff
Saturday’s $1 million Grade I Cotillion for 3-year-old fillies at Parx Racing has the 3-year-old fillies fans want to see.
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Good Cheer looks for a turnaround in the prestigious heat. Her victory in the Kentucky Oaks left her undefeated after seven starts, but she’s been beaten in her last two, including a dismal fifth in the Grade I Acorn.
La Cara won the Acorn and returns for the Cotillion. Scottish Lassie was last seen winning the Grade I Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga by 15 1/2 lengths. The only major absentee is 2024 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and Eclipse Award winner Immersive, who’s otherwise occupied in Louisville.
As promised, Immersive is the solid favorite on the morning line in Saturday’s $175,000 Seneca for 3-year-old fillies at Churchill Downs. Tread cautiously. In her only two starts this year, she’s been a close second in the Monomoy Girl in the shadow of the Twin Spires and second in the Grade I Coaching Club American Oaks, 15 1/2 lengths back of Scottish Lassie.
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Nothing Like You is the even-money favorite on the morning line for Saturday’s $100,000 Dark Mirage, 1 mile at Los Alamitos. The Malibu Moon filly, one of two in the race from trainer Bob Baffert, won the Grade II Santa Anita Derby but hasn’t had her picture taken after five subsequent starts. This field looks easier.
Sprint
Barnes, another one-time Triple Crown candidate, shortens up to 6 furlongs for Saturday’s $400,000 Grade II Gallant Bob for 3-year-olds at Parx Racing.
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The Bob Baffert charge exits a third-place finish in the Grade I H. Allen Jerkens at the Spa. He faces an actual Kentucky Derby runner, Neoequos (13th in the Run for the Roses), and Donut God, the 1-2 in the Jersey Shore Stakes at Monmouth in July.
Mad House, a Canterbury Park speedball, could try to steal this on the lead.
Unless Semper Primus is really as good as he looked in breaking his maiden last month at Ellis Park by 8 1/4 lengths with a 100 Beyer Speed Figure, there are no tigers in Saturday’s $300,000 Harrods Creek for 3-year-olds at Churchill Downs. There is, though, a promising and challenging field of six, arriving from four different directions. Have fun.
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Filly & Mare Sprint
Saturday’s $200,000 Grade III Princess Rooney at Gulfstream Park has eight distaffers seeking a “Win and You’re In” nod for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint and looks like a well-matched battle. Mystic Lake, Claret Beret, Hauling Ice and Vincey girl are nearly inseparable on the morning line.
Ragtime, a Godolphin homebred daughter of Union Rags opened her account with three starts at Saratoga, winning two and finishing second in the Grade I Test Stakes. That’s plenty to make the Bill Mott charge the 2-1 morning-line pick in Saturday’s $300,000 Grade III Dogwood for 3-year-old fillies at Churchill Downs.
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It’s an overflow field for Friday’s $300,000 Grade II Presque Isle Downs Masters at 6 1/2 furlongs on the all-weather course and a competitive one at that. The oddsmaker has Stormcast as the 7-2 favorite.
The Mitole fillie, trained by the seemingly omnipresent Mark Casse, ships from Woodbine after winning the Grade III Bessarabian and finishing third in the Grade III Seaway in her last two starts.
Also on tap: Saturday’s $150,000 Liberty Bell at Parx Racing and Saturday’s $100,000 Weather Vane for 3-year-old fillies at Laurel Park.
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Juvenile / Juvenile Fillies
The youngsters also have a relatively “down” weekend. The colts and geldings go in Friday’s $100,000 Fitz Dixon Jr. Memorial Juvenile on the Presque Isle Downs all-weather, Saturday’s $150,000 Bertram F. Bongard for New York-breds at Aqueduct and Saturday’s $75,000 Aventura at Gulfstream Park. The young ladies are in Friday’s $100,000 Presque Isle Debutante on the all-weather.
Around the world, around the clock
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Japan
Museum Mile, the Japanese 2,000 Guineas winner, laid down a marker Monday for his 3-year-old class with a popular and workmanlike victory in the Group 2 St Lite Kinen at Nakayama Racecourse.
The Leontes colt, carrying Keita Tosaki and the Sunday Racing silks, bided his time through most of the 2,200 meters, came wide around rivals entering the uphill climb in the straight and prevailed by 3/4 length over long shot Yaminin Bouclier.
Australia
Caulfield hosts both of Saturday’s Group 1s, the Underwood at 1,800 meters and the Sir Rupert Clarke at 1,400 meters.