Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation has occasionally sent horses to run at Parx, the racecourse just outside Philadelphia that was formerly known as Philadelphia Park prior to a full-on casino development. Now, an historic day of racing beckons at the course, hosting the first day in American racing, outside the Breeders’ Cup meeting, where two $1 million races are offered on the same programme. Parx took their two top races, the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G2) and the $1 million Cotillion Stakes (G1), and placed them on the same card.
Godolphin will have the favourites in both races, with Jim Dandy and Travers dead-heat winner Alpha in the Derby and recent Coaching Club American Oaks and Alabama victress Questing headlining the Cotillion. Both are trained by Kiaran McLaughlin and aimed at the Breeders’ Cup, with Alpha a potential Dubai World Cup horse for the stable next season.
Read more from Geoffrey Riddle of The National.