2026 Cotillion Stakes at a Glance

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Cotillion Stakes, Parx Racing, horse racing, America's Best Racing, ABR
Horses charge into the stretch in the 2024 edition of the Cotillion Stakes, which was won by eventual Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna. (Eclipse Sportswire)

Three-year-old fillies will get one last chance for Grade 1 laurels in their own division Saturday in the $1 million Cotillion Stakes at Parx Racing. Contested at 1 1/16 miles, the Cotillion marks the last Grade 1 of the year on dirt restricted to 3-year-old fillies. They subsequently will have to face older rivals in a Grade 1 test such as the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff. The Cotillion is also part of a great, 15-race card at Parx Racing, topped by the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby for 3-year-old males.

Cotillion Stakes

Racetrack: Parx Racing, Bensalem, Pa.

Date: Sept. 19

Purse: $1 million

Distance: 1 1/16 miles

Race: 13

Post Time: 4:58 p.m. ET

Notable winners: Thorpedo Anna (2024), Midnight Bisou (2018), Songbird (2016), Untapable (2014), Close Hatches (2013), Havre de Grace (2010), Ashado (2004), Jostle (2000), Lu Ravi (1998), My Juliet (1975), Susan’s Girl (1972), Office Queen (1970), Shuvee (1969).

First held: 1969

1. My Miss Mo (5-1 morning-line odds): Has not raced since late July but is training smartly for her Grade 1 debut. Exits a win in the Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks that followed a 1 ¾-length victory in the George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes and will get tested for top-level class here.

JOCKEY: Tyler Gaffalione; TRAINER: Saffie Joseph Jr.

2. Bodacious Bay (8-1): Makes her first start for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. after running second by 1 ½ lengths to My Miss Mo in the Monmouth Oaks. Also sports some fast workouts in preparation for facing Grade 1 company for the first time. Merits some attention here.

JOCKEY: Micah Husbands; TRAINER: Saffie Joseph Jr.

3. Zany (9-2): Comes off two disappointing tries when fourth in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks and a sixth in the Longines Kentucky Oaks. Was second in the Grade 1 Central Bank Ashland Stakes earlier in the year and a return to top form makes her a big threat.

JOCKEY: John Velazquez; TRAINER: Todd Pletcher

4. Always a Runner (8-5): The Kentucky Oaks winner was second in her next two starts: the Grade 1 DraftKIngs Acorn Stakes June 5 and the CCA Oaks July 25. Has never been worse than second in five career starts and looks like the one to beat.

JOCKEY: Jose Ortiz; TRAINER: Chad Brown

5. Iron Orchard (12-1): Returned to top form with a dazzling 12-length win in a New York-bred stakes at Saratoga. Makes a big class jump here, but won the Grade 1 Frizette Stakes last year. Also has the kind of speed that makes her a threat to steal this on the front end.

JOCKEY: Luis Saez; TRAINER: Steve Asmussen

6. Savor It (30-1): Seems overmatched after going off at 140-1 in the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks and 62-1 in the Black-Eyed Susan. Little to like here.

JOCKEY: Francisco Martinez; TRAINER: Uriah St. Lewis

7. Ms Sophistication (15-1): Was second in the Cathryn Sophia Stakes here and should benefit from that experience. Faces a tough task in her graded stakes debut.

JOCKEY: Paco Lopez; TRAINER: Jorge Duarte Jr.

8. Measure (4-1): Only missed by a neck in the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes Presented by Keeneland Sales and should be a major player here. Was third in the CCA Oaks and if there’s a concern, it’s that she may want more distance.

JOCKEY: Manny Franco; TRAINER: Mark Casse

9. Tap to Open (8-1): Won the Cathryn Sophia in her stakes debut. Is on a nice upswing but the outside post could pose a problem in this field.

JOCKEY: Flavien Prat; TRAINER: Brad Cox

THE PICK: Always a Runner

LIVE LONGSHOT: Iron Orchard

SUPERFECTA: 4-8-5-1

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