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Las Vegas, NV - It was a relatively slow weekend of graded stakes action but there was no shortage of thrilling action. A pair of $1 million races were contested as well as a Grade 2 and Grade 3 stakes. There were upsets, some bounce back performances and some terrific tune-up efforts ahead of the Breeders, Cup that will be run at Santa Anita in November. Let's take a look back at four of the races starting with the two $1 million stakes races at Parx.
The $1 million Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby was staged at Parx Racing on Saturday. It was J. Paul Reddam's Handsome Mike who pulled off the upset at odds of 19-1 - the longest shot in the field after a pair of fourth place finishes in his previous two starts. Winner of the Grade 2 West Virginia Derby earlier this year, Mach Macho finished a respectable second in the race two lengths behind the surprise winner while dead-heat Travers Stakes winner Golden Ticket was third. Travers co-winner Alpha finished a disappointing sixth as the 3-5 favorite.
| Post | Horse | Jockey | WIN | PLACE | SHOW |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Handsome Mike | I. Ortiz, Jr. | $40.40 | $14.00 | $9.80 |
| 8 | Macho Macho | C. Nakatani | $5.00 | $4.20 | |
| 6 | Golden Ticket | D. Cohen | $4.00 |
The $1 million Grade 1 Cotillion Stakes was next up on the Parx Racing Saturday card. It featured a tiny field of four females but ended up being the best race of the weekend. 9-5 second choice Miss Aurelia stayed undefeated in six career starts and maybe nosed ahead of Questing for the Eclipse Award for three year old fillies. Miss Aurelia caught the 2-5 favorite Questing with a furious stretch run and ended Questing's incredible stretch - Questing had perhaps the best summer of any filly in her class. 6 1/2 lengths back of the two heavyweights was Dixie Strike.
| Post | Horse | Jockey | WIN | PLACE | SHOW |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | My Miss Aurelia | C. Nakatani | $5.60 | $2.10 | -- |
| 2 | Questing | I. Ortiz, Jr. | $2.10 | -- | |
| 4 | Dixie Strike | R. Dominguez | -- |
The Grade 2 Gallant Bloom was run at Belmont Park on Saturday and acted as a final prep for the Breeders' Cup Fillies and Mares Sprint for a number of the entries. 8-1 fifth choice Dust and Diamonds pulled the upset victory outrunning 4-1 second choice Judy the Beauty and another tough female Musical Romance who finished third. 6-5 favorite Turbulent Decent was fourth a disappointing fourth in the race.
| Post | Horse | Jockey | WIN | PLACE | SHOW |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Dust and Diamonds | J. Leparoux | $19.60 | $9.40 | $5.50 |
| 4 | Judy the Beauty | J. Rosario | $6.20 | $3.60 | |
| 9 | Musical Romance | J. Leyva | $3.80 |
The Grade 3 Kent Stakes was contested at Delaware Park on Saturday and featured a field of nine strong sophomores. 3-1 favorite Optimizer scored his first graded stakes win and his second straight victory overall by an impressive 4 1/2 lengths in course record time at Delaware Park after an unflattering Triple Crown bid earlier this year. Pacesetter Excaper finished second and Two Months Rent was third. Pre race names to watch Cozzetti, Miami Cat and Lucky Chappy finished out of the money.
| Post | Horse | Jockey | WIN | PLACE | SHOW |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Optimizer | J. Court | $8.40 | $5.40 | $5.40 |
| 10 | Excaper | A. Solis | $8.20 | $6.80 | |
| 5 | Two Months Rent | J. Santiago | $15.00 |
