If you didn’t get the memo, Philadelphia Park is now known as Parx Racing. Their marquee event, the Pennsylvania Derby, was contested a week ago. Morning Line was an improbable winner for trainer Nick Zito. Now the girls will take center stage in the Grade 2 Cotillion Stakes.  A compact field of five will compete for the $750,000 purse.

Kentucky Oaks winner Blind Luck is a solid 7/5 favorite shipping in from her southern California base. The daughter of Pollard’s Vision has traveled the nation to win five races at five different tracks. Her latest trip resulted in a neck victory over Havre de Grace in the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes. I loved her chances there and I found it odd that the public bet Devil May Care off the board when Blind Luck looked as good or better on paper. This is a filly that can do anything. If she fires her best shot for jockey Joel Rosario and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer it will be nearly impossible to take her down.

As good as Blind Luck looks, her new rival Havre de Grace hasn’t been much worse. She’s lost by neck and a nose to the favorite in her last two races. What’s to say she can’t turn the tables? The daughter of the late Saint Liam is 9/5 on the morning line. Jockey Jeremy Rose may change tactics a little bit here. Rose won the Preakness in 2005 aboard Afleet Alex. He’s just as capable as any rider in the game despite the fact that he doesn’t get many big mounts anymore. Havre de Grace wouldn’t be a surprise if she was able to pull off the uspet.

Trainer Bob Baffert has cross entered Bonnie Blue Flag in the Cotillion and Beldame Stakes. Regardless of which race she tries, I like her chances stretching out. Jockey Kendrick Carmouche has been named to ride. Her chances of winning are probably better here, because she would likely have to hook Life At Ten on the lead in the Beldame. That wouldn’t be a good thing for either filly.

Awesome Maria looked good in her comeback race for trainer Todd Pletcher. The 2009 Grade 1 Frizette Stakes Stakes runner up improved her record to 3 wins from 5 starts by taking the $70k Risk Averse Stakes on the turf. This race will be her first attempting at routing. She is certainly bred for  it as a daughter of Maria’s Mon.

Absinthe Minded rounds out the field. She set the pace in the Grade 1 CCA Oaks two races back before fading badly.

Taking down Blind Luck will be  tall task for anyone in this field. Who do you like in the Cotillion Stakes?

The Jockey Club Gold Cup has a very deep field that includes Belmont and Travers Stakes winner Summer Bird. He has been working up a storm leading to this race. Older horse and Stephen Foster Handicap winner Macho Again will also be competing after finishing second to Rachel Alexandra last out in the Woodward. I’ll be wagering on Florida Derby winner Quality Road. While hindsight is always 20/20 he wasn’t the best bet last time. This time he will be making his third start since the lay off, and has experience at the distance. For a closer look at the Jockey Club Gold Cup check out my Breeders Cup Blog for the NTRA by clicking here.

Fabulous Strike will favored to win the Vosburgh Stakes for the third time in three years. He finished second last year after complications with a shoe. He has brutal speed, and can go fast while still hanging on late in the race. Trainer Todd Beattie is open to running in the Breeders Cup again, but he obviously wants to see how the gelding does here first. His biggest challenge will come in the form of Tom Fool Handicap winner Munnings. The three-year-old is highly regarded but is probably more optimal at seven furlongs. Go Go Shoot, Kodiak Kowboy and Peace Chant will also seek to take the cake in this race.

I loved her chances last out, and Careless Jewel was a dominating victor of the Alabama Stakes. She is going to be favored to take the Cotillion Stakes at Philadelphia Park this weekend. The gray filly has excellent early zip and will have a hell of a chance to win. There are many capable fillies in the race, but I like Cat Moves for a price. Already a Grade 1 winner early in her career, she has never raced this far. If she can translate her sprint form then she will be very tough in this one. Betting her is contingent with getting at least her 8/1 morning line price. I wouldn’t take less than that.

I’ve always thought that Music Note was an absolute monster, and last race was no exception. She won at a nice price in her first try sprinting, taking down Indian Blessing and Informed Decision. She will only have to beat four other fillies in the Bel Dame, but that doesn’t guarantee victory. Unbridled Belle has been hit and miss lately, but has enough talent to win this one on her best day. I’ll be rooting for Music Note, and I look forward to seeing her in this years Breeders Cup.

The Flower Bowl looks like a nice race. Pure Clan is the 3-1 ML second choice, and I expect a big run from her. A Grade 1 winner at three, Pure Clan has yet to show her true form this year. She finished third last out in the Beverley D last out, and will have to down the winner of that race (Dynaforce) to be successful here. Dynaforce has always looks like a nice mare, but had tailed off in form until last out. Kent Desormeaux worked his magic and won the Bev D at a nice price. It seems like everything he rides on the turf wins.

Gio Ponti would have to run a very bad race to lose the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational. He is easily the best turf horse in the country, and Christophe Clemente says he is the best horse he has ever trained. Perhaps a horse that has a shot at pulling the upset is Grand Couturier. He had been tailing off in form lately until winning a stakes race in New York last out. It would take a big effort from him or any other horse for that matter to take down Gio Ponti. I don’t’ see it happening.

Win Willy shocked the racing world earlier this year when he won the Rebel Stakes at a big price. He will try to win his second graded stakes race this weekend in the Indiana Derby. He has raced just once since the Kentucky Derby, but has looked sharp in the morning. Misremembered, winner of the Swaps Stakes, is the likely favorite. Gone Astray will be favored in the Ohio Derby after romping in the Pennsylvania Derby. That race also includes Join In The Dance, runner up in the Pennsylvania Derby. Gone Astray probably could have won the Indiana Derby which has a much larger purse and I find myself wondering why he wasn’t entered there.

I’m a bit disappointed with the quality of the Hawthorne Gold Cup, but excited at the same time because Awesome Gem might be able to get a marquee win. The old gelding has been running strong lately, particular when switching to the dirt at Emerald Downs two races back. His best competition will come in the form of Turfway Park Fall Championship winner Nite Light. I hope that Night Lite sets a blistering pace and Awesome Gem is able to run him down in the late stages of the race.

This is one weekend of racing that you don’t want to miss. I had no problem at all writing over 1,000 words for this because there is SO MUCH happening this weekend. I probably didn’t say enough, but I digress. I’m looking forward to the Jockey Club Gold Cup the most. I hope Quality Road runs a great race like he is capable of doing. Who do you like in this weekends big races? Leave a comment and let me know what your thinking!