Parx hosts its biggest program of the year on Saturday featuring the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G1) and $1 million Cotillion (G1) for 3-year-old fillies.
On Sunday, Remington Park gets it turn in the spotlight with a stakes-laden card led by the Oklahoma Derby (G3) and Remington Oaks (G3).
The fields are already set for both the Oklahoma Derby and Remington Oaks, and Saturday's program at Parx has also been drawn as of midday Monday. Below is a closer look at the fields, or prospective fields, for this week's major stakes races from across the country.
Saturday
$1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G1), Parx, 1 1/8 miles, 3-year-olds
Reincarnate, drawn into the eleventh and outermost gate, has been named the 3-1 morning-line favorite for the Pennsylvania Derby. His trainer Bob Baffert has won the race four times, including in 2022 with Taiba. The ascendant Saudi Crown, tabbed at 7-2 on the morning line and breaking from post no. 3, seeks a first stakes win for trainer Brad Cox following a close-up second to champion Forte in the Jim Dandy (G2) at Saratoga July 29. Il Miracolo (8-1) exits a local win in the Smarty Jones (G3) on Aug. 22; he will break from post no. 10.
$1 million Cotillion (G1), Parx, 1 1/16 miles, 3-year-old fillies
Pretty Mischievous, winner of the Kentucky Oaks (G1) in the spring, stretches back out in distance following a victory in the seven-furlong Test (G1) Aug. 5 at Saratoga. She has been named the 2-1 morning-line favorite in the nine-horse field, and will break from gate no. 3. Named the 4-1 second choice and starting from post no. 7, Defining Purpose's wins this year include the Ashland (G1) and Indiana Oaks (G3). She most recently was third in the 1 1/4-mile Alabama (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 19. Well-regarded California-bred Ceiling Crusher, the 5-1 third choice on the morning line, will get a class test for trainer Doug O'Neill. She will break from gate no. 2.
$300,000 Dogwood Stakes (G3), Churchill Downs, seven furlongs, 3-year-old fillies
Flamand and Santa Fe Gold were only separated by a half length when finishing second and third, respectively, in the seven-furlong Audubon Oaks at Ellis Park Aug. 13. Twice as Sweet, a stakes winner on dirt, returns to the main track after finishing second in the 5 1/2-furlong Pea Patch Stakes on turf at Ellis Park July 16.
$400,000 Gallant Bob (G2), Parx, six furlongs, 3-year-olds
Damon's Mound, Ryvit and Mullikan are all well-acquainted. Ryvit and Mullikan finished 1-2, with Damon's Mound fourth, in the seven-furlong Maxfield Stakes at Churchill Downs Aug. 25. Damon's Mound came back to beat Ryvit when winning the Robert Hilton Memorial at the same distance at Charles Town Aug. 25.
$200,000 Greenwood Cup (G3), Parx, 1 1/2 miles, 3-year-olds and up
Next has found a home at longer distances on dirt, winning both 1 1/2-mile Brooklyn (G2) June 10 at Belmont and July 27 Birdstone going 1 1 3/4 miles at Saratoga July 27. Ridin with Biden has won three of five starts this year including a pair of allowance heats at Parx most recently, including against runner-up Ridin with Biden most recently on Aug. 22.
$250,000 Turf Monster (G3), Parx, 5 furlongs turf, 3-year-olds and up
The top three finisher of the local Parx Dash on Aug. 22, winner Nobody Listens, runner-up Yes I Am Free and Just Jeremy, are all expected to return. Arzak is a graded-stakes winner who broke an eight-race losing streak when winning a Saratoga allowance Aug. 23.
$150,000 Noble Damsel (G3), Belmont Park, one mile turf, fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
Fluffy Socks seeks a fourth graded-stakes win for trainer Chad Brown. She is expected to be joined by stablemate Veronica Greene, an allowance winner. Malavath, fifth in last year's Breeders' Cup Mile, will be making just her third start of the year.
Sunday
$400,000 Oklahoma Derby (G3), Remington Park, 1 1/8 miles, 3-year-olds
Hit Show will try and provide Brad Cox with a fourth victory in the Oklahoma Derby. He'll have to overcome the far outside post in a 13-horse field. West Virginia Derby (G3) winner Red Route One returns to dirt after finishing off-the-board in the Dueling Grounds Derby (G3) at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 3. Raise Cain, winner of the Gotham (G3) earlier this year, was the beaten favorite in the West Virginia Derby.
$200,000 Remington Park Oaks (G3), Remington Park, 1 1/16 miles, 3-year-old fillies
Stakes winner Merlazza is the 2-1 morning-line favorite and has lured top rider Flavien Prat. She most recently was fourth in the Audobon Oaks at Ellis Park. Ancient Peace, the 5-2 second choice, makes her first start for Brian Lynch after previously being based in California with John Sadler.
