The Pennsylvania Derby is set for September 19 at Parx Racing with 11 three year olds entered for the $1 million Grade 1 race. The field brings together proven graded stakes performers, improving runners and local horses with experience over the Parx surface.
Parx confirms the Pennsylvania Derby will be contested at one and one eighth miles and will headline a major card that also includes the $1 million Cotillion Stakes and the $400,000 Gallant Bob Stakes.
Further Ado returns to Grade 1 company
Further Ado enters as one of the most accomplished horses in the field. The Brad Cox trainee won the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland earlier this season and also captured the Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs. His most recent start produced a fifth place finish in the Haskell Stakes.
Flavien Prat is scheduled to ride Further Ado from post 7. The colt will try to rebound against a field that offers several different pace and running style profiles.
Iron Honor and The Puma bring major race experience
Iron Honor drew post 2 for trainer Chad Brown. He finished second in the Preakness Stakes and later ran third in the Haskell Stakes. Jose Ortiz is scheduled to ride.
The Puma starts from post 6 for trainer Gustavo Delgado. Earlier this year he won the Tampa Bay Derby and finished second in the Florida Derby. He later competed in both the Haskell Stakes and Travers Stakes.
Local form adds another dimension
Micanopy enters after winning the Smarty Jones Stakes at Parx on August 18. That local victory gives him proven form over the track. Ponder and Dream, who finished second in the Smarty Jones, also returns and is expected to be part of the early pace.
Zihnal arrives after winning the West Virginia Derby, while Our Moneyman enters after finishing second to Travers Stakes winner Leading Change in the Indiana Derby. Talk to Me Jimmy, Igniter, Freedom’s Echo and Sassmaster complete the field.
Pennsylvania Derby field
- Zihnal
- Iron Honor
- Our Moneyman
- Igniter
- Talk to Me Jimmy
- The Puma
- Further Ado
- Freedom’s Echo
- Sassmaster
- Micanopy
- Ponder and Dream
The Pennsylvania Derby is the centerpiece of the September 19 card at Parx. Readers can also visit the permanent Pennsylvania Derby guide, the Cotillion Stakes guide and the Gallant Bob Stakes guide for more race context.
