Parx Racing

The Philadelphia Cup, the second event in a three-part National Thoroughbred League NTL Cup series, attracted a crowd of 4,260 to Parx Racing--doubling original estimates--and wagering of $1.6 million, 50% higher than originally forecast. Julius 'Dr. J.' Erving is a partner of the league and owner of its Philadelphia Stallions and was on hand for an exclusive meet-and-greet with more than a dozen Philadelphia sports legends. "This past weekend epitomizes why we formed the National Thoroughbred League," said Randall Lane, co-founder of the NTL. "Many of us grew up mesmerized...

The National Thoroughbred League (NTL), a new series of races meant to bring the team concept to the sport and to attract new fans, will put on its second 2024 event Saturday at Parx. It is called Oktober-Fast and is hosted by NBA Hall of Famer and Philadelphia icon Julius (Dr. J) Erving. When the NTL was in the planning stages last year the focus was on purchasing horses and then having them divvied up between the teams. There are currently 10 teams in the league and they would own...

Marathon specialist Next (Not This Time) worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 Wednesday morning at Turfway Park and, as long as things stay on track, he will start in a Breeders' Cup race, reports trainer Doug Cowans. It was Next's first work since his 10-length romp in the Sept. 21 Greenwood Cup at Parx. "The update is that he breezed well this morning," Cowans said. "We'll see how he comes out of the work and if all goes well he'll be nominated to both the [GI Longines Breeders' Cup] Turf and...

BENSALEM, PA -- Consider it a belated birthday present, Coach. Having turned 89 less than three weeks ago, the legendary Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas pulled yet another rabbit out of his hat, saddling GI Preakness Stakes hero Seize the Grey (Arrogate) to a victory in Saturday's GI Pennsylvania Derby, a result arguably more surprising than his off odds of 4.30-1 might suggest. The $300,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga purchase was only seventh to 'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) in the GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes in April,...

Third at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in February in the G3 Saudi Derby behind Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) and Book'em Danno (Bucchero), who have each distinguished themselves on the world stage since that day, Bentornato (c, 3, Valiant Minister--Her Special Way, by Put It Back) took advantage of his own moment to shine Saturday in the GII Gallant Bob Stakes at Parx. The Florida-bred and Leon King Stable Corp. colorbearer captured his first graded stakes after a string of black-type wins in Florida last year while also keeping his...

BENSALEM, PA -- The look of sheer relief on the face of trainer Ken McPeek pretty much said it all. Sent off the long odds-on pop and with the bullseye squarely on her back in Saturday's $1-million GI Cotillion Stakes at Parx Racing, 'TDN Rising Star' Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) was forced into a perilous trip and found herself locked away for the better part of the opening seven furlongs, but the great ones find a way to win when the chips are down and she clawed her way past...

BENSALEM, PA -- The winning margin wasn't close to the 25 lengths he finished in front of his outclassed rivals last September, but it was just another day at the office for America's premier dirt stayer Next (Not This Time), who took over when jockey Luan Machado gave him his cue entering the last of three turns and the 6-year-old lengthened clear in the final furlong to take the GIII Greenwood Cup Stakes by a comparatively 'measly' 10 lengths. Hammered down to odds of 1-20, Next broke alertly from a...

Officials at Parx Racing abruptly moved the GIII Turf Monster Stakes--one of five graded events on the GI Pennsylvania Derby and GI Cotillion Stakes undercard--to the main track after Freedom Eagle (Hoppertunity) suffered an unspecified injury and was vanned off the track following the running of the Alphabet Soup Handicap, an 8 1/2-furlong grass race restricted to Pennsylvania-breds earlier on the program. A statement from the track read: "Parx Racing management moved Saturday's Grade III Turf Monster Stakes from the turf course to the main track out of an abundance...

With better than three months left on the racing calendar for 2024, 'TDN Rising Star' Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) has already locked up the 3-year-old filly championship, having dominated her peers in the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks, GI Acorn Stakes and GI Coaching Club American Oaks. She lost little in defeat when running fellow 'Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light) to a head in the GI Travers Stakes, but she returns to her own sex for Saturday's $1-million GI Cotillion Stakes, the first half of a Grade I double in...

'TDN Rising Star' Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) drew gate six in a field of eight and was made the 4-5 morning-line favorite when post positions were drawn Monday for Saturday's GI Cotillion Stakes at Parx Racing in suburban Philadelphia. Trainer Ken McPeek will once again give Brian Hernandez, Jr. a leg up on Thorpedo Anna, whose victories in the GI Kentucky Oaks, GI Acorn Stakes and GI CCA Oaks have virtually clinched the 3-year-old filly championship with better than two months of racing left in 2024. She covered herself in...

The entries of two horses, one entered in the GI Pennsylvania Derby and other in the GI Cotillion S., that appeared to be hopelessly outclassed were not accepted Monday by the Parx racing office. Both are trained by Daniel Siculietano and owned by Salvatore Rizzo's JR Jewel Stables. The Pennsylvania Derby horse, Carry Grant (Brody's Cause) was coming off a race where he finished second in a $16,000 maiden claimer at Delaware Park. The Cotillion horse Molly Malone (Mendelssohn) won a $10,000 maiden claimer at Parx in her last start....

Brookdale Racing, Mark Edwards, Judy Hicks and Magdalena Racing's Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) posted her final work Saturday at Saratoga in preparation for Saturday's GI Cotillion Stakes at Parx Racing. Trained by Kenny McPeek, the GI Kentucky Oaks winner covered five furlongs in 1:00.20 over the Oklahoma dirt training track under regular exercise rider Danny Ramsey. McPeek, who is currently at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, said the report on the filly's work was positive. "All accounts are that she worked super and came out super," said McPeek. "She's doing...