At first glance, the $1 million Cotillion Stakes (G1) looks like a two-horse contest between Always a Runner and Measure.
After a second, third, and fourth glance … it still looks like a showdown between those two. They are the classiest fillies in the field, and class usually shows in the end.
The Cotillion is the 3-year-old filly companion event to the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G1) on Saturday when Parx Racing puts on its biggest show of the year.
Always a Runner is the deserving 8-5 favorite based on her victory in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) and her consistency. She has never been worse than second in five starts (3-2-0) for trainer Chad Brown.
She had the misfortune of facing Counting Stars in the Acorn Stakes (G1) and Coaching Club American Oaks (G1), both at Saratoga. She was game in both races, but clearly second best.
This could be the spot that gets her back to the winner’s circle. But it won’t be easy to contend with Measure.
Measure (4-1) has come into her own in the last two races for trainer Mark Casse. She took a huge step up in class into the Coaching Club American Oaks and acquitted herself well with a third-place finish, only 2 ½ lengths behind Always a Runner.
Measure then boldly advanced to the “big one” at Saratoga for fillies: the Alabama Stakes (G1), where she fought gamely to lose by only a neck to My Gun’s Loaded.
A concern for handicappers is the Cotillion Stakes distance at 1 1/16 miles. Measure clearly loved the 1 1/4 miles in the Alabama, raising the concern that this might be too short.
Casse was so pumped after the Alabama that he considered running Measure against the boys in the Pennsylvania Derby. Upon further review, he decided the Cotillion was the way to play.
“For the 3-year-old fillies, it’s their last shot on the dirt (against just 3-year-olds),” Casse said. “It’s a big purse. It is a little shorter (1 1/16 miles) than I would like, but I have found that Parx plays a little better to closers and that should help her.”
We agree. Taking nothing away from Always a Runner, Measure looks like a horse on the upswing with momentum on her side.
“Measure is a horse we have been excited about for a long time,” Casse said. It has just taken her a while to figure it out. It seems like she is getting better and better.”
We’ll see how much better on Saturday.
To round out the top three, let’s add My Miss Mo (5-1) from the rail. She will be a strong early pace factor following wins in the Black-Eyed Susan (G2) and the Monmouth Oaks (G3).
Post time for the Cotillion is 4:58 p.m. ET.
| # | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | My Miss Mo (FL) | T. Gaffalione | Saffie A. Joseph Jr. | 5/1 |
| 2 | Bodacious Bay (KY) | M. J. Husbands | Saffie A. Joseph Jr. | 8/1 |
| 3 | Zany (KY) | J. R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | 9-2 |
| 4 | Always a Runner (KY) | Jose L. Ortiz | Chad C. Brown | 8/5 |
| 5 | Iron Orchard (NY) | Luis Saez | Steven M. Asmussen | 12/1 |
| 6 | Savor It (KY) | F. Martinez | Uriah St. Lewis | 30/1 |
| 7 | Ms Sophistication (KY) | Paco Lopez | Jorge Duarte Jr. | 15/1 |
| 8 | Measure (KY) | Manuel Franco | Mark E. Casse | 4/1 |
| 9 | Tap to Open (KY) | Flavien Prat | Brad H. Cox | 8/1 |
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.
