The Lead:
Parx soaks in the racing spotlight for its major racing event of the season, a 15-race Pennsylvania Derby Day card that co-features the Grade 1 Cotillion Stakes for the 3-year-old fillies. The latter drew Kentucky Oaks winner Always a Runner, while the former has attracted known sophomores from the Triple Crown, Haskell and Travers Stakes.

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​​Field Depth:
Grade 1 winner FURTHER ADO is joined by Grade 3 winners / Grade 1-placed contenders THE PUMA and IRON HONOR (pictured). ZIHNAL also is a Grade 3 winner. FUTHER ADO, THE PUMA and IRON HONOR have held the top strength of schedules.
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Pace:
Local PONDER AND DREAM has outside speed and likely takes pressure from INGNITER, TALK TO ME JIMMY, FURTHER ADO and FREEDOM'S ECHO. The pace should be solid for 1-1/8 miles.

Our Eyes:
Here are my horse-by-horse notes.

1-ZIHNAL: Romping West Virginia Derby winner fits perfectly in a spot on the calendar like this as a late-blooming sophomore who debuted in April. Blinkers-on may have helped at Mountaineer, but competition there was considerably softer than what he faced in the Indiana Derby. Note his Indiana fourth was his only start without Lasix, which won’t be available. John Velazquez piloted in WV and returns; he won this race in 2010 with Morning Line.

2-IRON HONOR: The Preakness runner-up and Haskell third-place finisher saw his form flattered from those races when Napoleon Solo returned to run a dynamite second in the Travers against the division’s elite. That should stack this Nyquist colt right at the top of contenders Saturday. Trainer Chad Brown won the 2016 PA Derby with Connect, and while he loses Flavien Prat to Further Ado in this spot, the Plan B is Mr. 2026 himself, Jose Ortiz. Wore blinkers initially and showed more early speed and goes back to them Saturday. Expect him right off the mix from a great post draw.

3-OUR MONEYMAN: Louisiana-bred has fired every time regardless of competition level or venue, witnessed by a 9: 3-5-1 record that includes a runner-up to PA Derby rival Further Ado in the Matt Winn and neck loss to eventual Travers winner Leading Change in the Indiana Derby. Trainer Bret Calhoun replaces regular rider Axel Concepcion with Manny Franco, who exits a record-setting leading rider crown at Saratoga. Longest test for colt whose pedigree doesn’t scream for more distance, but his BRIS late pace figures are encouraging.

4-IGNITER: One-turn specialist stretches his legs around 2 for the first time since running sixth in November’s Remsen at Aqueduct. He’s had a really good 5: 3-0-2 campaign going shorter this season while shipped and aimed at shrewd spots at places like Laurel and Ellis. This is his big-money shot for Rick Dutrow, who won this race back in 2004 with Love of Money. Luis Saez piloted to the Ellis Park Derby victory and returns; he won this race in 2013 with Will Take Charge. Big work September 4 at Belmont indicates he’s remained sharp. It’s all about the final quarter-mile and how strong he can keep punching.

5-TALK TO ME JIMMY: New York-bred has been rock-solid in and out of state-bred company for Rudy Rodriguez this season. Withers winner and Peter Pan runner-up has been tested 4 times over this PA Derby’s 9-furlong distance. Loses regular rider Manny Franco to Our Moneyman and lands back with Ruben Silvera, his Withers-winning pilot from spring. All 3 wins have come either on the lead or dueling for it, so expect him to push the pace. Prefer others at this class level.

6-THE PUMA: Arguably the best finisher in the field when you look at BRIS late pace figures and the level of competition he’s putting them up against. How blinkers on for the first time will impact that is an unknown variable. Gustavo Delgado has not had success adding blinkers historically and if The Puma is too much into the race early, will he finish with the same flair? This seems a bit desperate for a horse who missed the Triple Crown and didn’t deliver in 2 previous big-money dances this summer at the Haskell and Travers. Almost a last call force on 3 weeks’ turn-around. Have always respected this horse but will try to beat him Saturday under 2-time PA Derby winner Javier Castellano.

7-FURTHER ADO: The 2-1 morning line favorite has done major damage at home in Kentucky, winning the Blue Grass and Matt Winn at Keeneland and Churchill. But he’s been like Superman without a cape on the road, going 0-for-4 between Saratoga, Tampa and Monmouth, 3 of those at 2-1 or less odds. Perhaps he hated the slop in the Haskell last time when fifth at 6-5 odds, but he didn’t return to the workout tab for 25 days after that. Regular rider Irad Ortiz Jr. remains sidelined with an ankle injury, so Flavien Prat takes the call for the first time. Capable winner will be an underlay price on the tote and he has to give weight under these allowance conditions, carrying top weight of 126 pounds. I’ll make him beat me at the expected price.

8-FREEDOM’S ECHO: Distant third-place finisher in the local Smarty Jones Stakes prep behind a couple of other PA Derby returnees. Locally based colt for Lupe Preciado was beaten 22 lengths in the Jerome in his other stakes bid and appears overmatched.

9-SASSMASTER: Todd Pletcher’s new shooter to the stakes scene has won 2 straight at Churchill and Saratoga since mossing nearly a year after his 2025 Saratoga debut fourth. Curlin colt won a fast 1-1/8 miles allowance at the Spa last month. Another who loses Flavien Prat for the PA Derby, however, and winds up with Tyler Gaffalione. We’ll see how he fares without Lasix for the first time as a sophomore. Pletcher won this race in 2002 with Harlan’s Holiday. Not impossible if he makes a leap forward.

10-MICANOPY: Strongest finisher in the race in recent starts based on BRIS late pace figures with 99 and 98 on the ledger, including his win the Smarty Jones local prep. Paco Lopez rides for the first time, fresh off no less than leading rider summers at 3 different venues. This $8,000 claim in April has gone above and beyond moving forward off Jose D’Angelo for Michael Simone. A win at this level would take another big step forward off his last and the post does him no favors.

11-PONDER AND DREAM: The entrant with perhaps the most intent on going to the front drew the widest post, forcing leading local pilot Mychel Sanchez to use even more horse from the opening bell. Unable to sustain that pace in the Delaware Derby or the Smarty Jones Stakes, he figures to be part of the action until the head of the stretch. Trainer Butch Reid has won just about every race at Parx in his long career, but this would be his first PA Derby if able to upset.

Most Likely Exotics Contender:
IRON HONOR projects to get a dynamite trip just behind the speed, saving ground from a favorable draw.

Best Longshot Contender:
OUR MONEYMAN is 9-for-9 in the trifecta, 8-for-9 in the exacta and should come with his run once again while a healthy 8-1 in the morning line.
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Sending it in ($100 bankroll):
$100 win IRON HONOR.