September 18, 2025
TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon
In Threes
Each member of the Grade 1-winning trio of Scottish Lassie (9-5), Good Cheer (5-2), and La Cara (7-2) are deserving of the top spot in Saturday’s $1 million Cotillion (G1) at Parx Racing, but only one enters the 1 1/16-mile contest on a winning note.
That horse would be early favorite Scottish Lassie, who cruised to a 15 ½-length victory in a condensed running of the Grade 1 American Oaks on July 19 (four horses).
Her contemporaries, Good Cheer and La Cara, met head-to-head in August’s Alabama (G1), finishing second and fourth, respectively.
With a target on their backs, Scottish Lassie especially after the gawdy Oaks win, the heavyweight triad leaves the gate at 5:15 p.m. ET.
Oh So Close
Baeza has been on the fringe of graded stakes success for the overwhelming majority of 2025 but remains without that breakthrough triumph.
The 3-year-old John Shirrefs charge can change that this Saturday as the early 2-1 favorite heading into the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G1) at Parx Racing.
After knocking at the door with a runner-up effort in April’s Santa Anita Derby (G1), Baeza recorded third place finishes in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont (G1) before adding another second in the Jim Dandy (G2) last out.
With a milestone moment on the mind, the bay colt takes to post eight under rider Hector Berrios.
Have I Made Myself Clear?
After capturing last year’s edition of the Princess Rooney (G3) with Soul Angel, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. isn’t hiding his intention to repeat this year, sending out four of the eight contenders in Saturday’s renewal of the $200,000 affair.
Back at Gulfstream Park, the multiple graded stakes winning conditioner will rely on the contingent of Mystic Lake (5-2), Claret Benet (3-1), Haulin Ice (7-1), and Ultimate Authority (8-1).
Should one member of the quartet be victorious, they will book a trip to the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) on November 1 at Del Mar – a race Soul Angel conquered by 3 ½-lengths last year.
Re-Test
Ragtime and Echo Sound each tested Grade 1 waters for the first time in last month’s $500,000 Test (G1) at Saratoga.
Following finishes of second and sixth, respectively, the pair’s connections opted for a drop in class, which coincidentally, will see them reunite for a rematch in Saturday’s $300,000 Dogwood (G3) at Churchill Downs.
Trained by Bill Mott, Ragtime made her professional debut this season as a 3-year-old and has performed well with two wins to go along with the Test effort.
Echo Sound, on the other hand, enjoyed a blazing start to her career, rattling off three straight wins, including the Myrtlewood Stakes.
The George Arnold II charge stayed red-hot to begin her sophomore campaign, collecting consecutive Grade 3 wins (Miss Preakness and Victory Ride), but scuffled in the Test.
Post four on Saturday belongs to Ragtime (2-1), and post one to Echo Sound (9-5).
Ready, Willing, and Able
May Day Ready had little trouble scaling the competition in August’s Lake Placid (G2), completing a gate-to-wire tally over 3-2 choice Play With Fire.
Fresh off the half-length decision, the two-time Grade 2 winner will slide down a step for Saturday’s $175,000 Winter Memories (G3T) at Belmont at the Big A.
With four victories, three of which in stakes tilts (Lake Placid, Grade 2 Jessamine, and Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies Stakes), May Day Ready has been nothing short of a marvel for owner KatieRich Stables, LLC.
A consistent force with over $1.3 million banked across eight starts (4-1-1), the Joseph Lee trainee enters the Winter Memories at 3-1.