Installed as the 5/2 morning line favorite despite never having faced males and never having attempted the 1 1/4-mile distance, Beholder will break from post 9 under regular rider and Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens. The five year-old daughter of Henny Hughes is unbeaten in three starts this year with consecutive wins in the Santa Lucia, Grade 3 Adoration, and Grade 1 Clement Hirsch. Her impeccable racing record includes 13 wins in 18 career starts with six at the grade 1 level. Beholder is a multiple Breeders’ Cup winner having won the Juvenile Fillies race in 2012 and the Distaff the following year. After not racing from September of 2014 to April of this year, the Richard Mandella trainee has never been better as she attempts to make history.
Catch a Flight (9/2) has been pretty darn good this year in his own right. Also trained by Mandella, the five year-old son of Giant’s Causeway won the Grade 2 San Diego July 25 and his hit the board in all seven starts in 2015. Flavien Pratt will be in the irons breaking from post 7.
Grade 1 winner Hoppertunity (5/1) finished fourth in the San Diego in his last start and finished second and third respectively in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Gold Cup and Grade 1 Stephen Foster. The Bob Baffert trainee is capable with his best effort.
The Grade 2 $1.25 million Pennsylvania Derby features the two biggest names from the Triple Crown trail September 24 at Parx as a field of 12 gathers in one of the most intriguing betting races of the year.
The $1 million Cotillion Stakes September 24 at Parx features a true clash of the titans as the six-horse field is headlined by the undefeated, five-time grade 1 winner Songbird who figures to face the most stern challenge of her career.
In a completely wide open renewal of the Presque Isle Mile September 18 at Presque Isle Downs, 13 runners including the also-eligible will contest the eight furlong trip over synthetic footing.
Champion Songbird is set to make her much-anticipated return to the races in the $200,000 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita on Saturday. The Grade 2 event will be run at a mile and a sixteenth and has attracted a field of seven.
Pennsylvania Derby Picks and Preview
23 September 2016The Grade 2 $1.25 million Pennsylvania Derby features the two biggest names from the Triple Crown trail September 24 at Parx as a field of 12 gathers in one of the most intriguing betting races of the year....
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