PA Derby, Cotillion Return After Year's Absence

Like every other racetrack in America, Parx Racing endured a difficult year in 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the racetrack to open 24 days later than scheduled and led to a total of 104 straight days without racing.

Beyond that, a jumbled Triple Crown schedule led to the cancellation of the Bensalem, Pa., track's two signature races for 3-year-olds, the $1 million duo of the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) and Cotillion Stakes (G1) for fillies in late September.

Adding to the woes, the racetrack's financial lifeline, the Parx Casino, was closed for 125 days and while it managed to generate $262 million in revenue during 2020, that figure was off by 37.6% from 2019.

Yet even with all that adversity tossed in its path, the pandemic was not the only obstacle for racing and breeding in the Keystone State.

Early in the year, Pennsylvania governor Tom Wolf proposed a state budget item that would divert about $199 million form the state's Race Horse Development Trust Fund, which had the potential to put the state's racetracks and breeding farms out of business.

"We had a tough road to travel in 2020," said Brian Sanfratello, executive secretary of the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association.

That was then.

Now, not only has normalcy returned for Parx and the Pennsylvania breeding industry, but in some ways the current atmosphere is better than ever.

Wolf's proposal to raid the Race Horse Development Trust Fund was thwarted by the legislature.

The Pennsylvania Derby and Cotillion are back in their traditional spots and will be contested Sept. 25 with strong fields for both races and a card that features eight stakes, five of them graded, worth a combined $3.4 million. 

In 2019, the same card featured seven stakes, three of them graded, carrying a worth of $2.8 million.

According to figures released by Parx officials, the daily wagering handle is up by 63.5% from 2019, jumping from $1.59 million to its current state of $2.6 million.

The number of mares bred in Pennsylvania is up by 42.7% since 2016, advancing from 554 to 791 in 2020.

There have been some disturbing negatives, such as 31 fatalities at Parx during the first six months of 2021. In addition, earlier this year, Tom Chuckas, the director of the Thoroughbred Horse Racing Bureau at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, reported "a significant amount of contraband" was found during a backstretch raid.

Yet for this weekend, the focus of attention has been the return of Pennsylvania's two most import races.

"We took a year off with our two big races and regrouped and we're doing great with them now," said Parx director of racing and racing secretary Dave Osojnak. "Overall our numbers are going up dramatically. Things are really going great. We're moving in the right direction."

The cancellation of the 2020 editions did little to sway horsemen from targeting both the Pennsylvania Derby and Cotillion this year. Both drew quality fields with the Derby landing two of the year's top 3-year-olds in Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) runner-up Hot Rod Charlie  and Preakness Stakes (G1) and Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) runner-up Midnight Bourbon  to headline a field of eight.

"We have some heavy hitters in the field and I'm crossing my fingers we can break our all-time record handle," Osojnak said. 

The development of both the Pennsylvania Derby and the Cotillion into summer classics has been a proud achievement for Parx COO Joe Wilson, who has worked at the track for the last 22 years.

"They have become major races with the top 3-year-ods," he said.

The confluence of several key factors stand at the heart of the stakes' rise to prominence in 3-year-old circles. 

The opening of the Parx Casino in 2006 supplied the cash that allowed both races to offer purses that far eclipsed similar Derbies in states such as Indiana, Ohio, Iowa, and Oklahoma. 

The purse for the Pennsylvania Derby was $500,000 in 2002 and reached $1 million for the first time in 2007. The Cotillion was increased from $500,000 to $750,000 in 2007 and was elevated to $1 million in 2012.

In addition, in 2010 Parx began to award a bonus of $50,000 to both the owner and trainer of each Pennsylvania Derby starter who won a Triple Crown race, the Haskell Stakes (G1), or the Travers Stakes (G1).

Ironically, Parx saved $200,000 in bonus money this year due to the disqualification of Hot Rod Charlie from first to last in the Haskell and trainer Bob Baffert's decision to scratch morning-line Pennsylvania Derby favorite Medina Spirit , the Kentucky Derby winner at the moment pending the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission's final ruling on the colt's failed post-race drug tests.

The other important change came in 2012 when the Pennsylvania Derby was moved from its traditional spot on Labor Day and the Cotillion was shifted from its October date to a joint date in late September. Not only did it make Parx one of the first—if not the first—racetracks to offer two $1 million races on the same non-Breeders' Cup card, it also provided the desired spacing with the Breeders' Cup and the other major 3-year-old stakes.

"When we were running the Pennsylvania Derby on Labor Day we were getting a few good horses but not a lot, which was understandable," Wilson said. "We were running our race nine days after the Travers and we knew we had to do something to make it more attractive with the million dollar purses. We were also trying to have two big days and we decided instead to try them on the same day and you've seen what's happened since then. They have become major races. The timing was perfect because we were four weeks from the Travers and five or six weeks from the Breeders' Cup and that made it attractive for the best 3-year-olds of both sexes."

Doug O'Neill, trainer of Hot Rod Charlie, said the Sept. 25 date sealed a deal that was already attractive with a $1 million purse for a late September grade 1 race restricted to 3-year-olds.

"The spacing is solid. We considered the (TVG Pacific Classic Stakes, G1, at Del Mar) but we were coming back too soon from the Haskell. This race was perfectly placed for us. Hopefully we will run well and come out of it good and it's perfect spacing for the Breeders' Cup. It has a great spot on the calendar," O'Neill said. "It's a credit to Parx for keeping this race as big as it is and turning it into a grade 1 race. It's exciting to be a part of such a big race in Pennsylvania."

All of the changes paid off with a bonanza in 2014 when the wildly popular Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome   came to Parx for the Pennsylvania Derby. Though he finished sixth behind eventual Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Bayern , his presence generated a huge throng of about 16,000 fans and a record total handle of about $10.3 million that has yet to be broken.

"California Chrome put the Pennsylvania Derby on the map," Wilson said.

Within two years, the Pennsylvania Derby became an integral part of a 3-year-old's road to an Eclipse Award as the 2016 edition featured Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist  , Preakness and Haskell victor Exaggerator  , Gun Runner  , Cupid  , and the victorious Connect  .

A year later, the Pennsylvania Derby was elevated to grade 1 status, giving horsemen every reason they needed to travel to Bensalem in September.

In its last three editions the Pennsylvania Derby has showcased West Coast  , the champion 3-year-old male of 2017, multiple grade 1 winner McKinzie   (2018), and Preakness winner War of Will   and subsequent Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) hero Spun to Run   in 2019.

The roster of top-class 3-year-old fillies who have run in the Cotillion since 2014 include Monomoy Girl , Midnight Bisou, Songbird, Untapable, and Close Hatches.

"It's become a fabulous day of racing," Wilson said.

Aside from the two grade 1 stakes, Saturday's card will also include the $300,000 Gallant Bob Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds that attracted multiple grade 1 winner Jackie's Warrior , who looms as the favorite for the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1).

There are five graded stakes on the program and Osojnak is hopeful that the $200,000 Parx Dirt Mile Stakes, with Hill 'N' Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1) winner Silver State  and multiple grade 1 winner Mind Control  in the field, will gain that status in 2022. The race used to be contested at 1 1/16 miles but was shortened to a two-turn mile to make it a better prep for the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, which will be contested at a two-turn distance this year at Del Mar.

On a daily basis, the pandemic caused Parx to change its racing schedule and create a more successful niche with fans.

Parx had been racing four days a week (Saturday through Tuesday) before the pandemic then shifted to a three-day week after its delayed opening in June with attendance restrictions. Aside from one less day, Parx also dropped Saturday racing in favor of a Monday through Wednesday format. The only Saturday on this year's racing calendar is Pennsylvania Derby Day.

"Once COVID hit it didn't make sense to run on Saturday because I couldn't have any spectators here. Even when people were allowed, we had restrictions on the number of people we could have inside and outside," Wilson said. "I couldn't run on Saturday so we switched the schedule and now we're not competing with heavy competition from the major tracks on weekends. It's worked out very well for us."

The increased daily wagering handle speaks volumes for the success of the new calendar as does the average field size. With just three dates a week, Parx was able to card 10-12 races on a regular basis in the summer with an average field size that Osojnak put at approximately eight, a figure made more impressive with only one or two turf races a day.

"The move has been great. We're getting fields on dirt that are as big you'll find anywhere else and once Monmouth and Delaware close in October through December we're flush with entries," Osojnak said.

Wilson was quick to credit the work of Osojnak and his staff, which includes Lynn Ott, Peter Meehan, and John DaSilva, in developing a solid daily program and Saturday's Pennsylvania Derby Day card that features 139 entries for 13 races with only two turf races.

"Dave Osojnak is doing a great job here at Parx," Wilson said. "He is a major contributor to our success here and has put together a great card with his staff."

After a year's absence, returnees to Parx on Saturday will find some changes in the betting menu and in the announcer's booth. 

Parx has increased the number of daily Pick 4 wagers from two to three and will offer four Saturday. It also introduced the Philly Big 5 wager on the final five races of the day with a jackpot, carryover, and 15% takeout. Osojnak said there will be a mandatory payout of the Philly Big 5 Saturday.

Also new to the scene is Chris Griffin, who has replaced longtime track announcer Keith Jones. Griffin has added commentary between races on Parx's simulcast feed to his duties and gives the track an active presence on social media.

While all of this has been happening at the racetrack, Sanfratello has taken delight in the ability to fend off the threat to the Trust Fund and continue to award highly attractive bonuses to the owners and breeders. 

The increase in mares bred in Pennsylvania has taken a noticeable rise since the establishment of the Trust Fund in 2017, reaching a recent high of 865 in 2020, a 56% increase from 2016. Though the number dropped to 791 in 2020 due to concerns about the potential loss of the Trust Fund, Sanfratello believes the increases will revert to an upwards climb in the years ahead.

Helping the cause of the breeding industry is a lucrative bonus for horses bred in Pennsylvania by stallions based in the Keystone State.

The owner of a Pennsylvania-bred sired by a state stallion gets a 40% bonus for a top three finish in an open race. That means in a $50,000 allowance race, the winning owner would receive $30,000 in purse money and $12,000 in bonus money for a $42,000 payday. 

Meanwhile, breeders get a 40% share of purse and bonus money credited to the owner, with the share jumping to 50% for maiden special weight races.

Using the aforementioned $50,000 race as an example, if the owner also bred the horse, the total payoff would be about $58,800 ($42,000 for the owner, $16,800 for the breeder) for a $50,000 race.

Aside from overnight races, the purse for four stakes for Pennsylvania-breds have been increased from $100,000 to $200,000, with two of them, the Plum Pretty Stakes and Alphabet Soup Handicap, included on Saturday's 13-race card.

"We're back on the right track and we're doing everything possible to enhance the Pennsylvania-bred program," Sanfratello said. "We've gotten help from our horsemen and the racetracks (Parx and Penn National Race Course) and the industry has done a fantastic job of rebounding from 2016."

With some added help, of course, from the visibility of the keystones of Pennsylvania racing, the Pennsylvania Derby and the Cotillion.