Derby, Cotillion have impressive record

The Pennsylvania Derby didn’t get its big horse, American Pharoah, but in recent years that has been the exception rather than the rule. The same holds true for the Grade 1 Cotillion.

Last year, California Chrome made his first start following the Belmont Stakes in the Pennsylvania Derby. He finished sixth behind the front-running Bayern, the eventual Breeders’ Cup Classic winner. At year’s end, California Chrome was voted Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old male.

Untapable, the leader of the 3-year-old filly division, also stopped by Parx in 2014, bouncing back from a fifth-place finish against males in the Haskell with a Cotillion victory. She would go on to win the Breeders’ Cup Distaff and was awarded the 3-year-old filly Eclipse Award.

The presence of California Chrome and Untapable led to a record Parx handle of more than $10.3 million, almost doubling the prior record of $5.5 million set on Pennsylvania Derby Day in 2013. That year, Will Take Charge defeated Moreno by 2 1/4 lengths in the Pennsylvania Derby en route to being named champion 3-year-old male. Close Hatches won the 2013 Cotillion; she would go on to be named champion older female the next year.

In 2012, My Miss Aurelia, the previous season’s 2-year-old filly champ, defeated Questing, who would be named the year’s top 3-year-old filly.

Havre de Grace defeated Blind Luck in the 2010 Cotillion. Blind Luck was named champion 3-year-old filly that year, and Havre de Grace would go on to be voted the Horse of the Year and champion older female the following year.