Pick 4 of the Week: Parx Saturday [Sept. 20]

A trio of fine graded stakes tilts highlights the closing four contests during the signature day of racing at Parx on Saturday. 

Race 12 Wager

• 50-cent Pick 4: 1,5,6,10 with 1,7 with 1,3,6,7,8,9 with 5,9 ($48)

Race 12 – Gallant Bob S. (G2)

A nice cast of three-year-olds will speed six panels on the dirt to get the play underway. I might be overplaying the first leg, but I’ll use the four logicals to commence the wager. Two-time stakes winner #1 Retribution (5-1), Allen Jerkens S. (G1) third #5 Barnes (2-1), the lightly raced #6 Donut God (4-1), and top pick #10 Neoequos (5-2) are the ones. 

Race 13 – Cotillion S. (G1)

Sophomore fillies will travel 1 1/16 miles on the main surface in the first top-level affair of the afternoon. The Brad Cox-trained #7 Good Cheer (5-2) looked like a fine version of herself when a clear second in the Alabama S. (G1) at Saratoga last out, which followed a clunker at the same venue. The Kentucky Oaks (G1) heroine is five-for-five at the distance and will receive a swift pace to rally into under regular pilot Luis Saez. 

Two-time Grade 1 queen #1 Scottish Lassie (9-5) aired in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) by a ridiculous 15 lengths in her latest appearance, and while a repeat of that seems impossible to me, I still feel that she is obviously good enough to add a third Grade 1 win to her resume. 

Race 14 – Pennsylvania Derby (G1)

The headliner attracted a fine cast of sophomores, which is the third leg of the sequence. I like Preakness S. (G1) and Haskell S. (G1) runner-up #9 Gosger (4-1) most, but I truly feel that any of six in the field can come out on top in this fantastic contest. 

The continually improving #1 So Sandy (15-1), Risen Star S. (G2) victor #3 Magnitude (6-1), Haskell third #6 Goal Oriented (5-2), Ellis Park Derby romper #7 Big Truzz (10-1), and Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont S. (G1) third #8 Baeza (2-1), all possess a ton of talent and could get it done with the right trip. 

Race 15 – Parx Sprint S. 

A deep field of 13 will jaunt 6 1/2 panels on the main oval in the closing piece. I’ll close things out with a pair of runners who have endured a ton of success on the oval in the past. #5 Maximus Meridius (10-1) owns four wins and three placings from eight lifetime runs on the strip for Butch Reid, and the bay posted some stout Brisnet Speed ratings earlier this season, as well. His best run will give him a chance late at a price. 

#9 Buccherino (3-1) is five-for-six at Parx, with his lone setback occurring when a good third behind the excellent Bentornato in the 2024 Gallant Bob (G2). The bay colt figures to be in range throughout with Paco Lopez in the silks.