Pletcher triple-teams Secret Oath in Cotillion

Trainer Todd Pletcher won’t be bringing the division-leading Nest to Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Cotillion at Parx, but he still has a strong hand for the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-old fillies.

Pletcher entered the trio of Shahama, Green Up, and Goddess of Fire against Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Oath and five others in the final Grade 1 route race of the year restricted to 3-year-old fillies. Shahama and Green Up are both coming off a stakes wins, while Goddess of Fire was third behind Nest and Secret Oath in the Grade 1 Alabama.

Shahama, at 8-1 on the morning line, could potentially offer the best value in the Cotillion. A multiple stakes winner in Dubai, Shahama was sent to Pletcher in late winter to prepare for the Kentucky Oaks. Shahama didn’t have the smoothest trip in the Oaks. She was carried out at the five-sixteenths pole and finished sixth, 5 1/2 lengths behind Secret Oath.

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Since then, Shahama has finished second to Gerrymander in the Grade 2 Mother Goose and won the Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks by 2 1/2 lengths.

“It was her best race since she came into us,” Pletcher said. “The Mother Goose was decent, this was better. I think probably putting her into the race a little bit earlier was the right tactics there. She has since trained well. Important opportunity for her.”

Flavien Prat rides Shahama from post 7 in the nine-horse field.

Green Up, a daughter of Upstart, has won all four of her starts this year, including the Cathryn Sophia at Parx on Aug. 23, earning a career-best 100 Beyer Speed Figure.

“She seemed to really take to the track there,” Pletcher said. “She’s always trained like a filly that had this type of potential. She’s run well pretty much every time. I’d expect her to do the same again.”

Irad Ortiz Jr. rides Green Up from the rail.

Goddess of Fire, a half-sister to Mind Control, who runs earlier on the card in the Parx Dirt Mile, has been second or third in four graded stakes. While a no-show 11th in the Kentucky Oaks, Goddess of Fire was beaten only two lengths for second by Secret Oath in the Alabama.

“I thought it was a solid effort,” Pletcher said. “She kept running to the wire. She has shown that she’s capable when things are right. Her last two races have been good; seems to be heading in the right direction.”

John Velazquez rides Goddess of Fire from post 3.

Secret Oath, trained by D. Wayne Lukas, should appreciate both getting away from Nest – who also beat her in the Coaching Club American Oaks – and a turnback to 1 1/16 miles from the 1 1/4-mile Alabama. Secret Oath is 3 for 4 at 1 1/16 miles and figures to get a decent pace to allow Luis Saez to drop back and make one run.

Adare Manor, trained by Bob Baffert, was the beaten favorite in both the Santa Anita Oaks and the Black-Eyed Susan on May 20 at Pimlico, her most recent start.

“I was really disappointed she got beat that day,” said Baffert, who was not the trainer of record for the Black-Eyed Susan. “She’s a big filly. I let her mature. She never went out of training. She’s a big, tall, gangly filly who’ll be better as she gets older.”

Mike Smith has the call from post 2.

Gerrymander, trained by Chad Brown, beat Shahama by three lengths in the Grade 2 Mother Goose – a one-turn, 1 1/16-mile race – before finishing a non-threatening fifth in the Alabama. Brown is hoping the cutback in distance and different track aid Gerrymander.

“She was certainly training very well,” Brown said. “I was very surprised she didn’t kick in that race.”

Joel Rosario rides from post 8.

Society, trained by Steve Asmussen, figures to use her speed from the outside draw to get position. She is 4 for 5, with her only defeat coming in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks, where she stumbled at the break and was part of a contested pace. She bounced back with a solid victory in the Grade 3 Charles Town Oaks.

Florent Geroux rides from post 9.

Locally based runners Morning Matcha, 4 for 5 at Parx, and Beach Daze, 3 for 6 at Parx, complete the field.

The Cotillion and the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby top a 10-stakes card at Parx that also includes the Grade 2 Gallant Bob, Grade 3 Greenwood Cup, and Grade 3 Turf Monster.

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