PA Derby & Cotillion Here Saturday, Sept 20th

California Chrome Heads Derby Field
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Keith Jones
kjones@parxracing.com

Parx will once again cap off its tremendous September schedule of stakes racing with its biggest day. This year set for Saturday, September 20th, the track will again host its two signature races on the same program. Putting the Grade I Cotillion Stakes and the Grade II Pennsylvania Derby together became an instant success two years ago, the monster day enjoyed by fans and horsemen alike. Outside of the Breeders' Cup, Parx is the only track in America to host two, $1,000,000 races on the same card. As the PA Derby continues to grow in stature, the 2013 edition will be remembered as one that moved that legacy to even greater heights. Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, the trainer who's won more Triple Crown races than any trainer in history, the trainer who's won more Breeders' Cup races than any trainer in history, had never won a Pennsylvania Derby. That changed in a big way when Will Take Charge roared up the rail en route to a clear cut victory, giving Lukas another trophy for his bulging trophy case. At year's end, Will Take Charge would win the award as the nation's top three year-old, marking the first time ever that the three year-old champion won the PA Derby. The list of Cotillion winners got even stronger in 2013 when multiple Grade I winner Close Hatches added her name to the race's great champions. Also trained by a Hall of Famer, Bill Mott, Close Hatches came off a brief layoff and put on a display worthy of the class filly she is. It was the second Cotillion win for Mott who won the race in 2003 with Fast Cookie. He's also won two PA Derbys - 1998 with Rock and Roll and 2011 with To Honor and Serve. Local broadcast coverage will be on The Comcast Network with a tape delayed presentation on ComcastSportsnet following the Phillies game. Hosted by Laffit Pincay III and Dick Jerardi along with analysts Joe Kristifek and Maggie Wolfendale, and NBC 10's Sheena Parveen, the 90 minute program will start at 4:30PM and feature coverage of the GIII Gallant Bob Stakes, the GII Pennsylvania Derby and the Grade I Cotillion Stakes. Join Parx for another historic day of world class thoroughbred racing on its biggest day of the year, Saturday, September 20th. Watch the nation's three year-old stars make their final preparations for the Breeders Cup World Championships, held at Santa Anita on October 31 and November 1. Gates open at 10AM.