Some of the top fillies in history have used the mile and a sixteenth race as a stepping stone in remarkable careers. The Cotillion Handicap has been a race with rich history since it began in 1969. Top horses such as Broad Brush, Summer Squall and Macho Uno all won the Pennsylvania Derby and in 2013, Will Take Charge won the race en route to champion three-year-old honors. With a $1 million purse on the line, the race traditionally attracts some of the top sophomores in the country.
Pennsylvania DerbyĬontested at a mile and an eighth and held at the end of September, the Pennsylvania Derby offers three-year-olds one final chance against age-restricted company before tackling older horses. Both races serve as key prep races for Breedes’ Cup events in the fall. Also held on Pennsylvania Derby Day in September is the Cotillion Handicap, a Grade 1 for three-year-old fillies that also boasts a purse of $1 million. Parx Racing is home to several marquee stakes races including the Pennsylvania Derby, a Grade 2 for three-year-olds with a coveted purse of $1 million. The turf course is seven-furlongs with a 1 1/8 mile chute. Because the track races year-round, the surface needs to be able to withstand a variety of weather conditions. The surface is made up of a mixture of sand, clay and loam. Parx Racing has a one-mile dirt oval with a 1 ¼ mile chute.
