Clairiere the Cotillion favorite after bad-trip second in Alabama

In examining the trips of Clairiere and Army Wife in last month’s Grade 1 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga, it’s not hard to see why the former figures to be favored over the latter in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Cotillion at Parx Racing.

Clairiere and Army Wife finished second and third, respectively, behind division stalwart Malathaat in the Alabama. Malathaat, a three-time Grade 1 winner, is training up to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff leaving the Cotillion the last best opportunity for 3-year-old routing fillies to achieve a Grade 1 victory against their own age and gender.

A field of nine was entered for the 1 1/16-mile Cotillion, but trainer Bob Baffert announced Tuesday he would not be shipping the Grade 3 stakes winner Private Mission.

In the Alabama, at 1 1/4 miles, Clairiere finished 1 1/2 lengths behind Malathaat and a half-length clear of Army Wife. Clairiere was steadied going into the first turn, was a bit stymied behind a modest pace, and then had to go six to seven wide in the stretch under Irad Ortiz Jr.

“It didn’t go ideal for her, she competed really well, she kept running,” said Steve Asmussen, trainer of Clairiere. “She’s done unbelievably well since the race. I’m excited at this opportunity with her. I think the talent’s there; with her pedigree I can’t say how significant a Grade 1 win would be for her.”

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Clairiere is a daughter of Curlin out of the three-time Grade 1-winning mare Cavorting. She is owned by her breeder, Stonestreet Farm.

Though Clairiere had two wins and two seconds from four starts at 1 1/16 miles around two turns early in her career, Asmussen would like this race to be a little further.

“She’s better over more ground,” Asmussen said. “More ground sorts horses out, and she’s one of the few that can handle it.”

Ricardo Santana Jr. has the call on Clairiere from post 6.

Army Wife won the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan and Grade 3 Iowa Oaks before running in the Alabama. Breaking from the outside post that day, she was three to four wide throughout while chasing the pace. She led from the three-sixteenths pole to inside the eighth pole before giving way to Malathaat and ultimately Clairiere.

“I like our chances going a mile and a sixteenth a lot better,” said Mike Maker, who trains Army Wife for Three Diamonds Farm.

The defection of Private Mission could leave Always Carina as the primary speed of the Cotillion. She won her first two starts quite impressively before finishing second as the 4-5 favorite in the Mother Goose and then fourth in the Grade 1 Test at seven furlongs.

Trainer Chad Brown isn’t convinced Always Carina wants to go two turns, but he does agree that her speed could be an advantage in this field.

“Now with this scratch inside of us it doesn’t look like a bad spot anymore,” said Brown, who trains Always Carina for Three Chimneys Farm. “She’s definitely questionable at the distance, but she’ll find herself in her most comfortable position, in front.”

John Velazquez has the call from post 7.

Maracuja, who beat Malathaat in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks, before finishing last to that one in the Alabama, is potentially a pace factor if she breaks well from post 4. Kendrick Carmouche is reunited with the filly after Santana rode her in the two Grade 1 stakes at Saratoga.

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Obligatory won the Grade 2 Eight Belles at seven furlongs and was second behind Search Results in the Grade 1 Acorn going a one-turn mile. She was no factor when fifth in the Test, a result her trainer Bill Mott blames on the lack of pace.

Obligatory is stretching out to 1 1/16 miles around two turns, a configuration at which she finished fourth in the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks in March, her third lifetime start.

“What’s different about her now is she’s got more experience,” Mott said. “However, she’s never been a filly that’s run the turns really well.”

Jose Ortiz rides Obligatory from the rail.

Leader of the Band, who won the Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks and who ran second in the Cathryn Sophia, this track’s local Cotillion prep, is a potential upsetter.

Will’s Secret, fourth in the Alabama, and Allworthy, third in the Charles Town Oaks, round out the field.

The Cotillion goes as race 11 on a 13-race card that begins at 12:05 p.m.