A field of 11 line up in the $1 million Cotillion (G1) with a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) up for grabs. (Photo credit: Parx Racing).
A talented field of 11 three-year-olds led by the undefeated Guarana head to the gate on Saturday at Parx Racing in the $1 million Cotillion (G1).
The race is a “Win and You’re In” race, the winner earning a fees expenses paid trip to Santa Anita for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) on Nov. 2.
The Chad Brown trained Guarana is perfect in three career starts and seeks her third consecutive Grade 1 victory after winning the Acorn at Belmont Park and the Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga. The daughter of Ghostzapper is the 9-5 morning line favorite.
She faces a deep field that including Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Serengeti Empress (7-2), Santa Anita Oaks (G1) winner Bellafina (6-1) and Jaywalk (6-1) who won last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1).
The Cotillion shares the spotlight on Saturday at Parx Racing with the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G1), which drew a field of seven but was reduced to six with the scratch of 9-5 morning line favorite Maximum Security.
The Jason Servis trainee, who was disqualified from his win in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and won the Haskell Invitational (G1) in his last outing will miss the race and possibly the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).
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Servis reported the colt will miss the race and several weeks of training due to a large colon nephrosplenic entrapment that developed shortly after the colt returned from a morning workout on Monday.
After a trip to the Mid-Atlantic Equine Clinic the colt is back in his stall and Servis has not ruled out a run in the Classic.
While the Cotillion looks like a great betting race, everyone needs to be reminded that Parx Racing has one of the highest takeout rates on trifecta and supefectas at 30%. It might be best to dip your bankroll in the other pools on Saturday.
Let’s head out to Philly for Saturday’s featured race of the day:
Parx Racing Race 10 The Cotillion (G1) Post time 5:14 ET
3 Street Band 8-1
8 Guarana 9-5
1 Serengeti Empress 7-2
11 Jaywalk 6-1
Street Band
The Larry Jones trainee figures to get overlooked in here. The filly won the Indiana Oaks (G3) two back after a troubled trip in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) where she crossed the wire sixth and was placed fifth. In the Alabama last out she was under a snug hold heading into the first turn, was rated just off the pace while under restraint from her jockey Sophie Doyle, the filly still tugging to go around the far turn and she battled on gamely missing the place spot by just a nose. Doyle will not have to rate her here as this race has plenty of speed and if she can get the filly to relax behind what looks likely to be a fast pace she should be running late at a decent price. Jones won this race in 2015 with I’m a Chatterbox.
Guarana
This filly is the real deal, perfect in three starts. She rolled to a 14 ¾ length win in her debut and her trainer Chad Brown brought her back in the Acorn (G1) where she won by six lengths coming from off the pace. She took the field gate to wire to win the CCA Oaks (G1) last out to remain perfect. The filly has not missed a beat in the mornings since her last win and can handle the cut back in distance here. She should sit a good trip sitting just off the pace. Her little sister is a runner, Magic Dance ($154,023) winning the Debutante at Churchill Downs in June and then running third in the Adirondack (G2) at Saratoga in her most recent start. The only real knock is the price which may drift south from her 9-5 morning line.
Serengeti Empress
She won the Kentucky Oaks (G1) in gate to wire fashion then was no match for Guarana in a runner up finish In the Acorn, beaten by six lengths. She bounced back out of that defeat with a career top speed fig in the Test (G1) at seven furlongs at the Spa but that was only good enough for the runner up spot behind Covfefe. The Tom Amoss trainee owns solid early and mid pace numbers and with the rail draw it is no secret this gal is going to be sent early. The inner paths are notoriously not good over the main track here and there is enough early pace in here she may not have things easy early.
Wagering:
WIN: Street Band to win at 5-1 or better.
EXACTA: 3,8 / 1,3,8,11
TRIFECTA: No play (30% takeout)
