The richest stakes action this weekend will be in Bensalem, Pa. as Parx Racing (formerly known as Philadelphia Park) will host a pair of $1 million races along with a $300,000 stake.
Parx is the lone track this year in the U.S. outside of the Breeders' Cup to host two $1 million races on the same afternoon.
The grades stakes action starts with the $300,000 Gallant Bob (G3) for sprinters going six furlongs that drew 14 runners although Distinctiv Passion and Purple Egg will likely scratch bringing the field down to a dozen.
The Ben Perkins trained Rainbow Heir is the 3-1 morning line favorite and is looking to bounce back off his first career defeat in a sixth place finish in the Amsterdam (G2) at Saratoga.
The $1 million Cotillion (G1) drew a field of 10 three-year-old fillies that will go 1 1/16 miles on the main track.
Mother Goose (G1) winner Close Hatches is making her first start off a three month break after missing the stakes action this summer at Saratoga due to spiking a fever. The Bill Mott trainee is the 5-2 morning line favorite.
The $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G2) drew a field of eight including the top pair from the Travers (G1) at Saratoga last month. Will Take Charge (2-1) and Moreno (5-2) were separated by just a nose and likely will be hard to separate in the wagering on Saturday as well.
You have met the favorites, now here is a longshot to look for in each of the three stakes on Saturday at Parx:
The Gallant Bob (G3)
Majestic Hussar (20-1) is coming off a ninth place finish as my second choice in the King's Bishop (G1). The colt looked primed for a good effort second off the bench but was off last, made a good middle move to get into the mix, came outward and bumped a foe at the top of the stretch and had no punch left late.
The colt had earned a career top two back beating non-winners of three optional claimers off a 5 1/2 month layoff. With a better start this guy should be right in the mix early and is going to be a generous price in this spot.
The Cotillion (G1)
Carnival Court (8-1) set the early fractions while down along the inside and weakened to finish third last out in the Alabama (G1) going 1 1/4 miles at the Spa. The filly caught a racing strip that was playing to outside stalkers and closers that day. I like the cut back to 1 1/16 miles here and this racing strip has been kind to horses on or near the lad at this distance.
This filly is bred to be a good one, out of the stakes winner Delta Princess ($740,918) who also has dropped $4.6 million earner Royal Delta. There is some other early zip signed up to go here but this filly looks capable of sitting just off the pace if needed and in just her fifth career start still appears to have a ton of upside.
Pennsylvania Derby (G2)
Fury Kapcori (8-1) invades from the west coast for the Jerry Hollendorfer barn and is going to be a decent price in this spot. Last year’s winner of this race was Handsome Mike, a west coast invader who pulled off the upset paying $40.40. Our top pick showed plenty of promise as a juvenile, winning the Palmer Futurity in his lone go on dirt and running second over the fake stuff in the Real Quiet and the CashCall Futurity (G1) at Hollywood Park.
The colt came off the bench two back with a fourth against optional claimers and then put in a game effort in a head loss in the El Cajon last out going a mile over the polytrack at Del Mar. The colt looks primed for a top effort here third off the bench and has enough pedigree to handle his first trip at nine furlongs. He is by Tiznow out of a Go for Gin mare. Decent value if this guy goes off near his 8-1 morning line. He is getting seven pounds from the morning line favorite Will Take Charge.
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