Just a few years ago the Cotillion Stakes and Pennsylvania Derby were just two of several fall options for the three-year-old set. But Pennsylvania casino revenue has transformed the stakes schedule at Parx Racing (formerly Philadelphia Park) and on the east coast in general. Now these races are attracting the cream of the crop of the sophmore filly and colt divisions annually. The Cotillion, in particular, has graduated to Grade 1 status and was won by yet another Kentucky Oaks winner this year in Untapable.
A daughter of the red-hot sire Tapit, Untapable has been the consensus leader of the three-year-old fillies ever since her dominating performance in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G3) in late February. She had been compared to that race’s namesake after ulta-easy scores in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Mother Goose Stakes (G1). However, unlike Rachel, she couldn’t beat the boys when sent to Monmouth Park for the Haskell Invitational (G1) in July.
The streaking multiple Grade 1 winner Stopchargingmaria was originally entered in the Cotillion but was re-routed to Saturday’s Beldame Stakes (G1) by trainer Todd Pletcher after the retirement of Princess of Sylmar. Some suggested Stopchargingmaria could overtake Untapable for year-end honors with a Cotillion victory but that seems unlikely now. Untapable may not have been brilliant last Saturday at Parx but she was professional in defeating fellow Grade 1 winner Sweet Reason and the up-and-coming Jojo Warrior.
Untapable joins Ashado and Plum Pretty as Oaks/Cotillion winners in the past 10 years. The Cotillion has also been won by champions Havre de Grace and My Miss Aurelia in that time span as well as likely 2014 champion Close Hatches, last year’s winner. No wonder the race chased NYRA’s Gazelle Stakes from the September schedule. That former Grade 1 fixture for three-year-old fillies was moved to Thanksgiving weekend in 2009 and has served as a Aqueduct’s Kentucky Oaks prep for the past two seasons.
Untapable is scheduled to face her elders, including Close Hatches and Beholder, in the upcoming Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1). A win there would sew up championship honors and maybe, just maybe, put Untapable back in the conversation as one the all-time greats.
-originally published on http://www.myfantasystable.com
Matt O'Neil Consulting 