Cotillion Draws Stong Field of Fillies

A solid 10-horse field will go to the gate Saturday at Parx Racing in the $1,000,000 Grade I Cotillion Stakes for three-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles, with the difference between the top two perhaps coming down to weights. In the morning line at 5-2, Close Hatches will carry high weight of 124 lbs. while fellow Grade I winner Sweet Lulu (7-2) will be at 117. Sweet Lulu is undefeated so far in four career starts, while Close Hatches is four-for-six, with her only real blemish a dull seventh in the Kentucky Oaks. Prior to that she beat Princess of Sylmar, who won the Oaks and is front-runner right now for champion filly honors.

A couple longshots are in with a chance

Of the others, Dancing Afleet (15-1) broke her maiden third time out at Deleware, came right back two weeks later with a solid allowance score, and then won the Grade II Delaware Oaks showing determination to close multiple lengths through the stretch. Seaneen Girl (5-1) has shown a frustrating pattern of good race-bad race, and after winning the Grade III Monmouth Oaks last time out, that might not bode well here. Carnival Court (8-1) made the jump from allowance to Grade I company and finished third in the Alabama, with Princess of Sylmar and multiple graded-stakes winner Fiftyshadesofhay in front of her.

Gallant Bob Stakes also on the card

Also on Saturday at Parx will be the $300,000 Grade III Gallant Bob, for three-year-olds going six furlongs on the dirt. It’s a crowded gate with 14 entries, with Rainbow Heir the morning line favorite at 3-1. He had won four in a row, including the Grade III Jersey Shore by five lengths, but then could only manage a sixth last time out in the Grade II Amsterdam at Saratoga. He was only 5 ¼ lengths back, however, and had to deal with a bump early and then as forced to go five wide on the turn. Clearly Now is the 4-1 second choice.