Parx Offers Two Grade I Events on Saturday

Saturday afternoon Parx will host a pair of Grade I events for three-year-olds and both six-figure events will have an impact on divisional honors and potentially horse of the year.

In the $1 million Cotillion for three-year-old fillies, the unbeaten Songbird looms as the 1-5 choice under Mike Smith and the Jerry Hollendorfer trainee is among the contenders for horse of the year, especially if she remains unbeaten and caps her sophomore campaign with a win in the Breeders Cup Distaff.

But if there was a spot to play against Songbird the Cotillion is the race. Maryland-need Cathryn Sophia arrives off a sharp score over the track and the Kentucky Oaks heroine looms a serious threat to Songbird and is worth an upset play at 3-1 or more.

One race later in the $1.25 million Pennsylvania Derby, Kentucky Derby hero Nyquist will face Preakness and Haskell winner Exaggerator and both will be vying for favoritism.

But both the speedy Cupid and Awesome Slew are worth playing at solid prices. Cupid won the West Virginia Derby against the bias while Awesome Slew won the Smarty Jones over the track on Labor Day and is worth playing at 10-1 or higher.