Key Points
- Scottish Lassie dominates in the Coaching Club American Oaks and has shown she can adjust her style, though she’ll be heavily favored.
- Good Cheer fits perfectly back at 1 1/16 miles, and with the right stalking trip, she could pose a serious threat.
- La Cara has speed to try and control things at the front at Parx, and offers more potential value than the most obvious Grade 1 winners.
- Clicquot appears to be on the rise, coming off a strong Indiana Oaks win, and her running style might give her a chance to take a step up.
- Indy Bay is very consistent with good form in the Charles Town Oaks, but this distance is a new test for her.
Cotillion Stakes Preview
The premier Grade 1 event for 3-year-old fillies this early fall is the $1 million Cotillion Stakes, set for Saturday, September 20, 2025, at Parx Racing in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. At 1 1/16 miles on dirt, it is the companion event to the Pennsylvania Derby, and it always attracts some of the best fillies in the division. This year is no exception.
Among the eight fillies entered, three already own Grade 1 victories: Good Cheer (Kentucky Oaks), Scottish Lassie (Coaching Club American Oaks), and La Cara (Acorn Stakes). Meanwhile, there are rising challengers, including G3 Indiana Oaks winner Clicquot and Charles Town Oaks (G2) winner Indy Bay.
Race Details
- Date: Saturday, September 20, 2025
- Track: Parx Racing, Bensalem, Pennsylvania
- Distance: 1 1/16 miles on dirt
- Age/Sex: Three-year-old fillies
- Post Time: ~5:59 p.m. ET
Field, Post Positions & Morning-Line Odds
Below is the field of eight, along with trainers, jockeys, and morning-line odds:
| Post | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Odds |
| 1 | Scottish Lassie | Jorge Abreu | Joel Rosario | 9-5 |
| 2 | La Cara | Mark Casse | Dylan Davis | 7-2 |
| 3 | Clicquot | Brendan Walsh | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | 8-1 |
| 4 | Indy Bay | Saffie Joseph, Jr. | Tyler Gaffalione | 8-1 |
| 5 | Not Too Late | Uriah St. Lewis | Sonny Leon | 30-1 |
| 6 | Ourdaydreaminggirl | Louis Linder, Jr. | Eliseo Ruiz | 20-1 |
| 7 | Good Cheer | Brad Cox | Luis Saez | 5-2 |
| 8 | Dry Powder | Chad Summers | Antonio Fresu | 10-1 |
How They Got Here - Prep Races
Each of the contenders comes to Parx Off Stakes Company.
- Scottish Lassie soared in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) at Saratoga on July 19, winning by 15 lengths.
- La Cara and Good Cheer both raced in the Alabama Stakes (G1) on August 16; Good Cheer was second, La Cara finished fourth.
- The Charles Town Oaks (G2) is the most recent race for Indy Bay (winner) and Not Too Late (fifth).
- Clicquot dominated the Indiana Oaks (G3) on July 5, winning by four lengths; she’s had time off since that victory.
- Dry Powder won the local prep, the Cathryn Sophia Stakes, beating Ourdaydreaminggirl, who also returns.
Contender Breakdown
Here’s a closer look at each horse’s chances, advantages, and concerns:
- Scottish Lassie – She skipped the Kentucky Oaks but has bounced back into form impressively. Her 15-length win in the Coaching Club American Oaks puts her on top. While she often leads, she’s also shown she can stalk—like in the Frizette last year. Favorites tend to be short, and she’ll likely be the one.
- Good Cheer – Undefeated until recently, she grabbed the Kentucky Oaks, but has had mixed results since. The cutback in distance to 1 1/16 miles plays to her strengths: she’s perfect at that trip. If she gets a good stalking position, she should be dangerous.
- La Cara – Has speed, and often tries to lead or get up close. Coming off a less than stellar Alabama, she might rebound here. She could try to go wire-to-wire; that’s her best chance. Plus, her price might be more attractive relative to Scottish Lassie and Good Cheer.
- Clicquot – She’s improving, clearly, and her recent Grade 3 win shows she handles the trip distance and style needed—stalking then finishing. She might not be at the top tier yet, but she could surprise at a decent price.
- Indy Bay – Very consistent and has class. Her Charles Town victory looked good, but this will be her first time stretching beyond seven furlongs in a more traditional two-turn configuration. Can she stay the extra distance? It’s something to watch.
- Not Too Late – Speed is a weapon for her, but all her wins have come short of the mile, and she hasn’t shown much in graded stakes. She’s a longshot whose best chance might be to set or be near the pace and hope for something dramatic.
- Ourdaydreaminggirl – Has shown she handles Parx well and put in a strong second in the Cathryn Sophia. With some pace up front, she could rally late. Probably more of a fringe pick for minor money unless things break her way.
- Dry Powder – Beat Ourdaydreaminggirl in the Cathryn Sophia by over four lengths in a stalking move. She knows the dirt at Parx and draws outside, which may allow her to avoid traffic. Still, stepping up in class, she’ll need to improve again to take down the big guns.
What to Expect / Race Dynamics
- With several horses who like to be on or near the pace (Scottish Lassie, La Cara, Clicquot, Dry Powder), the early fractions could be quicker than in some recent races.
- Horses that can settle just off the lead might benefit—Good Cheer among them—especially over this distance.
- Parx tends to favor those who can handle early speed and still have something left in mid-to-late stretch, so stamina and tactical positioning will be crucial.
Value Plays & Potential Upsets
- La Cara could offer a better payout compared to the two heavy favorites, particularly if she can control the early pace.
- Clicquot might be a sleeper: fewer starts, improving, and good at this trip. If she breaks well and doesn’t get shuffled, she could hit the board or more.
- Dry Powder is another long shot to watch, especially given her prep win and familiarity with the track. A bet for exacta/trifecta might make sense.
Odds Recap & Forecast
The betting lines suggest this is essentially a three-horse race among Scottish Lassie (morning line favorite), Good Cheer, and La Cara. Indications are strong that Scottish Lassie will be the one to beat. If she shows up in a similar form, she may be hard to knock off. But race flow, trip, and jump-off speed could tilt things in favor of Good Cheer or La Cara under the right circumstances. Unless there’s a major upset, one of those three probably wins, and the rest try to make up ground.
Cotillion Stakes FAQ
Q: When and where is the 2025 Cotillion Stakes?
A: The Cotillion will be run on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at Parx Racing in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. It’s scheduled as Race 13 on the card, with an expected post time of 5:15 p.m. ET. The Cotillion shares the spotlight with the Pennsylvania Derby on the same program.
Q: Which trainer has the most wins in Cotillion history?
A: Steve Asmussen holds the record with five victories between 2012 and 2022. Interestingly, he doesn’t have a starter this year, which means every trainer in the 2025 field is seeking their very first Cotillion win.
Q: Who is the morning-line favorite this year?
A: Scottish Lassie has been installed as the 9-5 favorite after her overpowering 15-length victory in the Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga. While Good Cheer could take significant betting action thanks to her Kentucky Oaks credentials and Brad Cox’s barn, Scottish Lassie is expected to remain the choice of the wagering public.
Q: Which jockey has the most Cotillion wins?
A: Mike Smith leads all riders historically, with four Cotillion triumphs: Jostle (2000), Close Hatches (2013), Songbird (2016), and Midnight Bisou (2018). He is not in the lineup this year, so each of the 2025 riders will be chasing their first Cotillion victory.
Q: Who won the Cotillion in 2024?
A: The 2024 edition went to Thorpedo Anna, who used it as a springboard to even greater success by winning the Breeders’ Cup Distaff and later being crowned Horse of the Year. She was trained by Kenny McPeek and ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr. Neither returns for this year’s renewal.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
