After a year off due to COVID-19, the Pennsylvania Derby at Parx returned. Despite embattled Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert deciding to keep Medina Spirit home, it was still a great return for the biggest day of Pennsylvania horse racing.
It was all sunshine on a brilliant October day and a nearly wire-to-wire win for heavy favorite Hot Rod Charlie (3-5). The eight-horse field was basically a match race between Hot Rod Charlie and Midnight Bourbon.
The Pennsylvania Derby was Hot Rod Charlie’s first Grade 1 win. However, it did not come without drama, even after he crossed the wire. Ricardo Santana Jr, Midnight Bourbon’s jockey, filed an inquiry about an incident at the top of the stretch. Hot Rod Charlie appeared to drift and bump midnight Midnight Bourbon. It was a long five minutes for Hot Rod Charlie bettors and the horses connections who were no doubt thinking about his disqualification from the win in the Haskell.
Rich Perloff, host at TVG, caught up with Hot Rod Charlie’s jockey Flavien Prat after the race. Here is the interview.
2021 Pennsylvania Derby results and payouts
| PP | Horse | Win | Place | Show |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Taiba | $4.80 | $3.00 | $2.60 |
| 1 | Zandon | $3.80 | $2.60 | |
| 5 | Cyberknife | $3.00 |
- $2 exacta (7-8) paid $10.80
- .50 trifecta (7-8-10) paid $11.80
- .10 superfecta (7-8-10-1) paid $8.55
Final time: 1:48.6
Unplaced horses order of finish: Fulsome, Bourbonic, Speaker’s Choice, I Am Redeemed, Weyburn
$1 million Cotillion Stakes 2021 results
Clairiere (2-1), winner of seven graded stakes entering the day, closed strong down the stretch to win the 2021 Cotillion by three lengths.
(G1), 3-year-old fillies, 1 1/16 miles (Final time 1:44.1)
| PP | Horse | Win | Place | Show |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Society | $17.60 | $10.20 | $6.60 |
| 8 | Morning Matcha | $33.20 | $13.80 | |
| 6 | Secret Oath | $3 |
Payouts
- $2 exacta (6-1) paid $38.40
- .50 trifecta (6-1-5) paid $29.70
- .10 superfecta (6-1-5-4) paid 27.72
Lead image of Hot Rod Charlie by John Minchillo/AP
