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Paco Lopez 4000 wins Woodbine Turf Showcase Woodward Stakes Day Pennsylvania Derby Day Mohawk Million Night |
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 Brian Hernandez Jr. aboard Thorpedo Anna after winning the Cotillion Stakes. |
The richest races on the continent this weekend were run on Saturday at Parx Racing with two $1 million events run at the Bensalem, Pennsylvania oval. Conditions were typical for mid September, with cloudy skies and temperatures in the low 80's, the main track fast and the turf was firm (but turf races after race 3 were taken off).
The co-feature race on Saturday was the $1 million Cotillion Stakes (G1), with a field of 8 three-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles on the main track. Kentucky oaks (G1), Acorn (G1), and Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) winner Thorpedo Anna was sent off as the 1-10 favorite off her close second place finish in the Travers (G1). In to challenge her included 7-1 second choice Mystic Lake, winner of the Victory Ride (G3) and Charles Town Oaks (G2), an 12-1 third choice Power Squeeze, winner of the Delaware Oaks (G2) and Alabama Stakes (G1).
 Thorpedo Anna leads down the stretch in the Cotillion. |
Also on the card was the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) won by Seize the Grey plus the Gallant Bob Stakes, Turf Monster Stakes, and Alphabet Soup Stakes.
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 6 Thorpedo Anna Hernandez 2.20 2.10 2.10 7 Gun Song Velazquez 13.00 7.80 3 Tarifa Prat 4.20 Winning Time: 1:45.45 $2 Exacta 6-7 26.80 $0.50 Trifecta 6-7-3 31.80 $0.10 Superfecta 6-7-3-8 34.56 |
Left: Thorpedo Anna in the winner's circle. Winning trainer Ken McPeek said, "A win's a win. I'm going to take it. I'm not complaining. We didn't train all that hard for this race. I felt let's not squeeze the lemon all that hard, I thought we could win it regardless and we did. She's an exceptional individual."
Right: The trophy presentation. Winning jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. said, "(John Velazquez on Gun Song) put us in a box and we were stuck in behind them for a long, long time. We finally got a little seam there turning for home, she lengthened her stride and she was able to put her neck in front and she just showed how game she was from the eighth pole home."
Left: Thorpedo Anna in the post parade. McPeek added, "What I was more worried about was the shipping and the running over a racetrack that she hadn't run over, worked over, or trained over," McPeek added. "This racetrack's a little heavy today, seems to me that it's probably a little slower than normal."
Right: Thorpedo Anna returns after the race. Hernandez added, "The other horse had a race over this racetrack and this track seemed a little deep today and that kind of helped the other filly more than anything. Thorpedo Anna idled a little bit but even on the gallop out she never let that filly get back by her."
Left: Second place finisher Gun Song in the post parade. Trainer Mark Hennig said, "Especially the last 50 yards, when she tried to fight back, she was showing a lot of courage there. I said all along I just look forward to next year because she's going to have a big 4-year-old year."
Right: Third place finisher Tarifa in the paddock.
The fillies break from the gate for the Cotillion.
 Coastal Mission wins the Parx Dirt Mile |
Left: Coastal Mission in the winner's circle. Winning trainer Jeff Runco said, "He got off a little slow. I thought he'd be a little closer, but he got in position. Once he leveled off, he did what he was supposed to do."
Right: Coastal Mission in the post parade. Runco added, "He got far behind and outside (in the Charles Town Classic). He was wide the whole race."
 Next wins the Greenwood Cup Stakes |
Jockey Paco Lopez sent 43-1 Ridin With Biden to the lead first time by through slow fractions of 24.96, 49.94, 1:16.55, and 1:42.97 while pressed by Next and stalked by Magic Michael. Turning for home, jockey Luan Machado sent Next to the lead through 10f in 2:09.03. Kept to task by Machado, Next drew off to win by 10 lengths over Magic Michael in 2:33.61. It was another 5 lengths back to 56-1 Treble Clef third.
Left: Next in the winner's circle. Winning owner Michael Foster said, "Do I want to go a mile and a quarter on dirt against the boys in the Classic? I do, there's no doubt in my mind, I believe in my heart he can run with them. But we don't want to change the horse. He proved what he could do at a mile and a half and out. He's just good at it, but we'll see."
Right: Next in the paddock. Winning trainer Doug Cowans said, "My gut tells me to stay with the distance and give up the surface if I do something like that and go for the mile and a half on the grass," Cowans said. "I know you got to face the Europeans, who have a good turn of foot, that's the thing. A mile and a quarter on dirt, I worry about the pace scenario that the horse will get into. You can see [today] he was tugging a little bit on the bridle. You put up a 46 [-second half-mile], he'll get to tugging on you pretty good. I don't know where that leaves him."
 Honorable Win wins the Miss Blue Tye Dye Stakes |
Left: Honorable Win heads to the winner's circle.
Right: Honorable Win in the post parade. The Kathleen Demasi trainee improved her record to 1 win in 1 start earning $55,200 for owner-breeder Pewter Stable.
 The Boy's Warrior wins the Whistle Pig Stakes |
Left: The Boy's Warrior in the winner's circle.
Right: The Boy's Warrior in the post parade. The Tim Girten trainee improved his record to 2 wins in 2 starts, earning $82,200 for owner-breeder Warrior's Reward.
 Foxy Junior wins the Plum Pretty Stakes |
Left: Foxy Junior in the winner's circle.
Rightr: Foxy Junior heads back to the barn ater the race.The Bernard Houghton trainee improved her record to 7 wins, 1 second, and 1 third in 17 starts, earning $217,669 for owner-breeder Dianne Stern.
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