BENSALEM, Pa. – The $1 million, Grade 1 betPARX Pennsylvania Derby and $1 million, Grade 1 Cotillion Stakes, headlining events on a star-studded program set for Saturday, September 21 at Parx Racing, lured a strong group of early nominations led by Kentucky Oaks winner Thorpedo Anna, Preakness Stakes winner Seize the Grey, Toyota Blue Grass Stakes winner Sierra Leone and Alabama Stakes winner Power Squeeze.
Thorpedo Anna, most recently second by a head against males in the Grade 1 Travers Stakes August 24 at Saratoga Race Course, headlines the 33 early nominations for the 1 1/16-mile Cotillion Stakes. Trainer Kenny McPeek indicated immediately after the Travers that the daughter of Fast Anna would run in the Cotillion. North America’s leading 3-year-old filly, Thorpedo Anna owns three Grade 1 victories this season in the Kentucky Oaks, Acorn Stakes and Coaching Club American Oaks.
The 1 1/8-mile Pennsylvania Derby attracted 25 nominations led by Seize the Grey, most recently seventh in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes July 27 at Saratoga Race Course. The nominations also include Sierra Leone, most recently third in the Travers, along with the top three finishers from the Smarty Jones Stakes Aug. 24 at Parx – Gould’s Gold, Just Step On It and Uncle Heavy. Other nominees include recent Grade 3 West Virginia Derby winner Dragoon Guard, Grade 1 winner and recent Shared Belief Stakes winner Muth and Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby winner Stronghold.
Graded stakes winners Batten Down, Imagination and Society Man and stakes winners Pandagate, Doc Sullivan, Lonesome Boy, Most Wanted, Regalo, Tuscan Sky and Unmatched Wisdom are among the other Pennsylvania Derby nominees.
The 1-2 finishers from the Grade 1 Alabama – Power Squeeze and Grade 1 winner Candied – join Thorpedo Anna on the list of early nominations for the Cotillion. The first three finishers from the Cathryn Sophia Stakes Aug. 24 at Parx – Gun Song, Impel and Wonder Ride – are also nominated along with graded stakes winners Chatalas, Hope Road, Life Talk, Manama Gold, My Mane Squeeze, Mystic Lake, Scalable, Sugar Fish and Tarifa are also nominated.
The Pennsylvania Derby and Cotillion headline the Sept. 21 card that also includes the $400,000, Grade 2 Gallant Bob Stakes for 3-year-olds at 6 furlongs; the $300,000 Parx Dirt Mile Stakes for 3-year-olds and up; the $250,000 Grade 3 Turf Monster Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at 5 furlongs on the turf; the Grade 3, $200,000 Greenwood Cup for 3-year-olds and up 1 1/2 miles; and $100,000 Parx Sprint Stakes for 4-year-olds and up at 6 1/2 furlongs.
The card also features a pair of $100,000 events for Pennsylvania-bred and sired 2-year-olds in the Whistle Pig Stakes and Miss Blue Tye Dye Stakes; and the $100,000 Plum Pretty Stakes for Pennsylvania-bred fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up and $100,000 Alphabet Soup Handicap for Pennsylvania-bred 3-year-olds and up.
For a complete list of nominations to the Pennsylvania Derby and Cotillion, and past performances, click here.
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