In a race that includes three fillies as an entry (bet one and get all three) from trainer Todd Pletcher, a total of 13 runners have been entered in the Cotillion. Leading the way in the morning line odds is Able Tasmen (8-5), who comes in with three consecutive Grade 1 wins to her name, and the winner of six of nine overall. She was a 9-1 longshot winner of the (G1) Kentucky Oaks back in May, in a race where the strong favorite got caught up in a suicidal speed duel early on and completely collpased late, allowing Abel Tasman to rally from off the pace for the win.
She backed up that effort with a one-length score going a mile in the (G1) Acorn Stakes at Belmont, and last out hit the Grade 1 hat-trick with a head victory in a fairly slowly run (G1) Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga. She's a deserving favorite here, but is likely to be heavily overbet and it's very tempting to try and beat her.
At anything near her ML odds of 8-1, one to consider for the upset is Lockdown for trainer Bill Mott, a two-time winner of the race. Although she was only sixth last out in the (G1) Alabama, that distance of 1 1/4 miles was clearly farther than she wants to go.
She was very competitive in her two previous efforts, the Kentucky Oaks where she managed to get up for third despite a completely horrible trip, and the (G2) Mother Goose where again she overcame a bad stumble at the start and than had to race nine-wide down the stretch and still finished second. With the cutback in distance and a clean trip, she should be in the mix late.
Second choice in the ML at 4-1 is It Tiz Well, who has been in the money in eight-of-nine lifetime starts, with two graded stakes wins. She was a distant second in the Alabama, but like Lockdown she should relish the cutback in distance and has good tactical speed to be in poistion to pounce as they turn for home. Although lacking a win, Salty (5-1) has been very good in three straight Grade 1 efforts with a runner-up finish just a length back of Abel Tasmen in the Acorn and two consecutive third-place finishes. A very game runner for trainer Mark Casse, she deserves serious consideration in the exotics.
The Cotillion Stakes goes Saturday, September 23 from Parx Racing in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. Post time is 4:55 PM Eastern, and immediately preceeds the (G1) Pennsylvania Derby. You can bet the full Parx card through the Today's Tracks link at one of our recommended online racebooks.
Category : Betting Picks
Tag : Horse Racing
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