The biggest day of the year on the racing calendar at Parx is nearly upon us. Yes, that’s right, Pennsylvania Derby Day is here and the racing office in Bensalem has a monster 15-race card on tap headlined by the two $1M Grade 1 events. To celebrate the big day in the city of Brotherly Love, 1/ST BET and Xpressbet have yet another no-brainer promotion to take advantage of. This time it is as simple as 10% back on your first $100 bet. Just register on the promotional landing page, bet $100 on the Saturday card at Parx, and get a $10 bonus for doing so. Of course, I will be diving in myself on the promo. Here are three horses in graded stakes races I will be wagering on assuming their morning line prices stick.


Race 12: Gallant Bob (G2)
This six-furlong affair for 3YOs over the main track should see a lively early tempo with serious speed horses drawn both down on the inside and to the far outside. This should set things up for a runner that can settle early and finish with energy. Hopefully, that is New York-bred #4 Bravaro. The Upstart colt returned off a two-month freshening at Colonial Downs in early August missing by a neck at odds-on, but bounced back last out cutting back to seven-panels and winning a $500k stakes at Charlestown four weeks later. Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. keeps Paco Lopez aboard in this colt’s third start of the form cycle where he appears to be drawn well and set for a big effort in his second start going three-quarters of a mile. He won the first won going away at Aqueduct on debut.

Play: #4 Bravaro (8-1 ML)
Picks: 4-8-6


Race 13: Cotillion (G1)
The first of two $1M Grade 1 events is this 1 1/16-mile race for 3YO fillies over the main track where Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner #4 Always a Runner is listed as the significant 8-5-ML favorite after a pair of runner-up efforts to Counting Stars at Saratoga since her huge win under the twin spires this spring. The Gun Runner filly has never finished worse than second through five starts and has only been defeated by one horse thus far, but I worry how she will handle getting her heart ripped out by the Mark Casse runner in back-to-back starts. Always a Runner is the likeliest winner, but not a great bet at the likely off-odds, so I will try to beat her with #3 Zany. Trainer Todd Pletcher tried blinkers for the first time in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1). It did not lead to an improved effort, but she was caught three-wide throughout while stalking the pace under Hall of Famer John Velazquez. I am hopeful the inside draw and experience on this American Pharoah filly leads Johnny V. to be more patient early. If Zany opts to relax mid-pack along the rail early, she has a significant chance of saving energy early, yet getting the jump still on Always a Runner. This could be the trip that leads the Repole Stable gal back to the winner’s circle for the first time since February.

Play: #3 Zany (9-2 ML)
Picks: 3-4-5


Race 14: Pennsylvania Derby (G1)
The featured event did not come up quite as strong as some years’ past, but it is a really interesting analytical puzzle nonetheless. Brad Cox conditioned #7 Further Ado was made the 2-1-ML choice, but has yet to win outside of the Blue Grass State making him a tough proposition from a wagering perspective. #6 The Puma is a bit more intriguing in his third start since scratching just days before the Kentucky Derby. He came with a solid late run in the Travers (G1), but ended up hanging a bit late in his fourth-place finish to Leading Change. He adds blinkers and makes sense, but is another one I lack full trust in at this point of the campaign.

I will instead roll with the pricey Louisiana-bred #3 Our Moneyman (pictured). The $2M son of Mr. Money competed in five sprints to start his career for trainer Bret Calhoun before stretching out to a route of ground for the first time against fellow state-breds in the Crescent City Derby at Fair Grounds last spring. He has been unable to solidify a win going two-turns against open company since then, but has run a pair of bang-up seconds in the Matt Winn (G3) and Indiana Derby (G2). Like many, the nine-furlongs could be stretching his stamina a bit, but he nearly overcame serious traffic issues at the start to beat the aforementioned Travers winner at Horseshoe Indy in July. He has been given time and could be sitting on a career best for veteran conditioner Bret Calhoun. Hot-riding Manny Franco will be in to ride the colt for the first time.

Play: #3 Our Moneyman
Picks: 3-6-7