Gun Song shows the way in Cathryn Sophia; Cotillion may be next

Gun Song might have punched her ticket to next month’s Grade 1, $1 million Cotillion on Saturday, when she darted to a 2 1/2-length win over Impel in the $200,000 Cathryn Sophia at Parx Racing. It was another nose back in third to Wonder Ride.

The Cathryn Sophia served as the local stepping-stone to the Cotillion. It was one of six stakes on the Smarty Jones card Saturday at Parx.

Gun Song ($5.20) moved to the lead after breaking from the rail and set fractions of 22.89 seconds for the opening quarter, 47.05 for the half-mile, and 1:12.66 for six furlongs. She went on to cover the mile and 70 yards on a fast track in 1:44.22.

Jose Lezcano was aboard for trainer Mark Hennig.

“I was a little concerned when I saw the first quarter pop up, but they kind of backed off and let her settle into stride,” Hennig said in a post-race interview broadcast by Parx. “She was pretty tough from then on.”

Hennig said Gun Song could return for the Cotillion.

“That’s why we came here, we wanted to get a race over the track and see how she handled it,” he said. “So, at least that keeps this door open, and we’ll see how she’s doing when the time comes.”

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Gun Song was winning her second career stakes behind the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan. She has now won 4 of 9 starts and earned $485,440. The daughter of Gun Runner and the Grade 2-winning mare Nicole H races for R. Lee Lewis.

Lezcano has a second stakes winner on the card when he guided Buccherino ($4.60) to a 6 1/4-length win over Maximum Meridius in the $75,000 Salvatore DeBunda, a 6 1/2-furlong race for 3-year-olds. The winner was timed in 1:16.15.

Alfredo Velazquez trains Buccherino, a son of Bucchero, for Happy Tenth Stable.

Mayor’s Mile

Adero just got up for a head win over pacesetter Concealed Carry in the $75,000 Mayor’s Mile.

Adero ($2.40) sat just off fractions of 24.77 for the opening quarter, 48.47 for the half-mile, and 1:12.34 for six furlongs before completing the distance on a fast track in 1:37.71.

Abner Adorno was aboard for Carguys Racing and trainer John Servis, who trained both Smarty Jones and Cathryn Sophia.

Parx Dash

Alogon ($9.20) was a three-quarter-length winner over That’s Right in the $100,000 Parx Dash at five furlongs on turf. It was another half-length back in third to 3-5 favorite Grooms All Bizness.

Causes Trouble fell on the backside during the race and unseated jockey Dexter Haddock, who is believed to have escaped serious injury and was being checked out by onsite medics shortly after the race, according to an official with Parx.

Causes Trouble sustained an injury to his left foreleg and was vanned off, according to the chart of the race by Equibase.

Alogon covered the distance on firm turf in 57.03 seconds.

Jaime Rodriguez was aboard the winner for Charles Matses and trainer Ned Allard. Alogon is by California Chrome.

* My Buddy B ($8.20) was strong on the front end for a 1 1/2-length win over Recruiter in the $75,000 State Representative’s Stakes. The winner covered 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.34.

Yan Aviles was aboard for owner and trainer Krista Hetrick. My Buddy B is by Creative Cause.

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