After a three week summer break from live racing, Parx returns with 2 days of stakes-packed racing and purses totaling over $1 million. On August 21, 2023, Parx hosts Pennsylvania’s Day at the Races which highlights PA-Breds and presents 7 stakes races for state-breds including races on the turf and dirt and races for older horses as well as for two-year olds.
For 2 year olds, the PA –Sired, PA-Bred Stallion Series returns with 2 stakes races, The Whistle Pig for open 2 year olds, and The Miss Blue Tye Dye for 2 year old fillies both at 5 furlongs and a purse of $100,000 each. The series showcases Pennsylvania’s talented young horses and consists of six stakes races for PA-Bred 2 year olds sired by Pennsylvania based stallions that run on 3 race days during the year. The first 2 races run on August 21st, the second two run on Saturday, September 23rd at Parx, and the last 2 run on December 27th at Parx. A trainer’s bonus will be awarded at the end of the series. Older horses nominated for the remaining stakes on the card include horses by Pennsylvania’s leading stallions Weigelia, Warrior’s Reward, and Uptowncharlybrown, and include fan favorites Beren, Smooth B, and Uncle Ernie.
One of the top ten leading trainers at Parx, Eddie Coletti Jr. plans on running several promising 2 year olds in The Whistle Pig Stakes and The Miss Blue Tye Dye Stakes. “I’m running Addyson’s Dream and Whiskeyromeosierra in the Whistle Pig. They both ran already, so they should improve from their race. They ran in the same maiden special race, and Addyson was second and Whiskeyromeosierra was third. There are lots of nominations in the race that never started, and sometime you get lucky with them and they win, but my horses have some experience and should benefit from their race. In the Miss Blue Tye Dye, I’m running One Eyed Jackie. One Eyed Jackie ran several times so she has some experience, and she was third, fourth, and sixth in a maiden special weight. We’re running several Uptowncharlybrown babies and one by Eastwood. He seems to be a promising young stallion. Uptowncharlybrown Stud LLC owns him now, and he stands at Blackstone Farm in Pine Grove, PA.”
“I’ve had luck and success breeding to Uptowncharlybrown in Pennsylvania,” said Irene Coletti, an owner and breeder based in Ocala, Florida. “I have a farm in Florida, and I still breed in Pennsylvania because you can’t beat Pennsylvania’s breeding program. The purses are good, and the owners and breeders awards are great. I’m running a horse named Bronx Boys that I bred in the maiden special race on Pennsylvania’s Day at the Races, and the purse is $60,000. That’s a great incentive to breed in PA,” said Irene.
John Servis, a well-known trainer at Parx of Smarty Jones and Cathryn Sophia, plans to start several newcomers on Pennsylvania’s Day at the Races.”I’m running Jody’s Ruby and Sirani in The Miss Blue Tye Dye. I like them both. Jody’s Ruby is a full sister to Uncle Ernie, and she’s had a few races. Sirani is a first time starter. I’m also running Uncle Ernie in the Banjo Picker Sprint. He’s doing good now. These races are a great opportunity for PA-Breds, and on Smarty Jones Day, I’m running Adero in The Smarty Jones,” said Servis. John Servis won the 200 4 Kentucky Derby and Preakness with Smarty Jones, and in 2016, he won The Kentucky Oaks with Cathryn Sophia.
Eddie Coletti remarked, “Pennsylvania’s Day at the Races is always a great day of racing. It’s good for the breeders and the owners because they have an opportunity to win some races and get back some of their investment, and it’s good for the fans to see the local talent and the newcomers. There’s always a huge turnout, and it’s a good event, and an exciting day of racing.”
First post is 12:40, Monday, August 21 when live racing returns to Parx. Stakes racing continues August 22ndfeaturing The Smarty Jones Stake, Grade III and the Cathryn Sophia Stakes. They are often prep races for the upcoming PA Derby and Cotillion, both Grade 1 races held on Saturday, September 23, 2023.
