Baeza was forced to settle for third in both the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve and the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets this spring, but he could not be denied a Grade 1 win any longer.

Baeza came from off the pace, circled rivals in the far turn, took command in the stretch, and drew off to a clear victory in the $1 million Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby Sept. 20 at Parx Racing.

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Baeza's breakthrough victory will be counted among trainer John Shirreffs' most satisfying triumphs.

"Today was one of the most exciting races I've participated in, to tell you the truth," Shirreffs said. "Just because of all the hope and everything we had for Baeza. All that build-up. It was just like, 'this is it today.'"

Baeza defeated nine rivals in the season's last major stakes race restricted to 3-year-olds to secure his first career Grade 1 win. He completed 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.03 on a fast track to win by 2 1/4 lengths while guided to victory by jockey Hector Berrios. Magnitude rallied late to claim second. Goal Oriented was another two lengths back in third.

Baeza, owned by C R K Stable and breeder Grandview Equine, drew praise throughout the spring as one of the top 3-year-olds in America thanks to his strong performances against classic winners Sovereignty and Journalism, but he was always the bridesmaid to one of those two — or both — in four straight starts. With their absence Saturday, the pressure was on to finally earn a top-level victory.

"This was a ‘prove it’ day," Shirreffs said. "He did."

Breaking toward the rear of the 10-horse field, Berrios urged Baeza to stay attached to the back of the group and not fall too far behind.

Gradually moving up down the backside as So Sandy set fractions of :23.01, :46.63, and 1:10.51, Berrios called upon Baeza at the three-eighths pole and immediately got a response.

"Once he responded and I saw the other horses, I said 'It's our win. Our race,' Berrios said.

Baeza cruised into contention and approached the new leader, Goal Oriented, at the quarter pole before drawing away in the stretch. He paid $4.80 to win as the favorite.

Shirreffs has seen great improvement in Baeza since the start of the year. "He's really shown great signs of maturity," he said.

Baeza was the second Grade 1 winner of the year for his sire McKinzie. Baeza's victory was also monumental for his dam, Puca, who has now produced three consecutive Grade 1-winning foals after Baeza's half-brothers, Mage and Dornoch, won the 2023 Kentucky Derby and the 2024 Belmont Stakes, respectively. All three colts were bred in Kentucky by Robert Clay's Grandview Equine, who co-owns Baeza.

Shirreffs wouldn't yet commit to the $7 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 1 for Baeza's next race, however, it would be a logical place to run given that the horse is based in Southern California.

Shirreffs had a big smile on his face when discussing his hopes for a 4-year-old campaign. He was also eager for another shot at Sovereignty, who was the winner in all of Baeza's previous three starts.

"I always look forward to a shot at Sovereignty," Shirreffs said.

Pop the Champagne: Clicquot Uncorks Winning Rally in Cotillion

Clicquot made a splash in her Grade 1 debut, outfinishing Dry Powder and Ourdaydreaminggirl in a dramatic battle to the wire to win the $1 million Grade 1 Cotillion Stakes Sept. 20 at Parx Racing.

Clicquot wins the Cotillion by a neck. (Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO)

Racing in between horses early under Irad Ortiz Jr., Clicquot uncorked a powerful move turning for home. Charging down the center of the track, the filly by sire Quality Road inched away from a stubborn Dry Powder down the lane to prevail by a neck with the late-closing 42-1 longshot Ourdaydreaminggirl only another head behind in third.

"It's easy to say it now, but for her to come and beat these fillies, a relatively lightly raced filly, I thought it was quite an accomplishment from her," Walsh said. 

Notching her fourth straight win for trainer Brendan Walsh and owners X-Men Racing, Madaket Stables, and SF Racing, Clicquot ($12.60) stopped the clock for the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.85. The victory marked the next step on the ladder of steady improvement for Clicquot, who exited a win in the Grade 3 Daily Racing Form Indiana Oaks in her last race on July 5.

"We had the plan the whole time along, to go here if she won at Indiana and give her a chance," Walsh said. "She's been working unbelievably well. Like a top-class horse does. You can see by her demeanor she's just all class. I can't say enough about her. She makes our job easy."

Not one of the multiple Grade 1 winners in the field would factor into the final results. Post-time favorite Scottish Lassie finished fourth, La Cara finished fifth, and Longines Kentucky Oaks winner Good Cheer suffered her third loss in a row and finished sixth. – Molly Rollins