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California Chrome is headliner in Pa. Derby

This week, a horse will arrive from California and briefly turn a track on Street Road in Bensalem into the epicenter of North American thoroughbred racing.

California Chrome. (Matt Slocum/AP)
California Chrome. (Matt Slocum/AP)Read more

This week, a horse will arrive from California and briefly turn a track on Street Road in Bensalem into the epicenter of North American thoroughbred racing.

For at least a couple of minutes on Saturday, the sport will turn its eyes to Parx Racing, where Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome will bolt from the No. 1 gate in the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby.

This year's race marks the first time a reigning Kentucky Derby winner will be in the field. Chrome, scheduled to arrive at Parx on Tuesday, was installed as the even-money favorite in the eight-horse field of 3-year-olds on Monday. It drew the inside post position,with 7-2 Bayern, the Bob Baffert-trained Haskell Invitational winner, drawing the No. 4 gate. Tapiture, the Arkansas Derby winner, is 5-1 out of Gate 7. Tapiture finished 15th in the Kentucky Derby.

The Pennsylvania Derby tops a 13-race card that includes the $1 million Cotillion Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. The deep nine-horse field will be led by 7-5 favorite Untapable, the Kentucky Oaks winner, starting from the No. 8 gate.

"This promises to be the biggest day of racing in Pennsylvania history," said Keith Jones, the Parx track announcer and public relations director.

The post time for the first race will be 11:25 a.m., with doors opening at about 10. The Comcast Network will televise the races live from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Each of the favored horses, pointing toward the Breeders' Cup on Nov. 1 at Santa Anita, has something to prove. California Chrome, trying to win the Triple Crown, finished fourth in the Belmont Stakes.

Bayern, after winning the Haskell, finished last in the Travers. Untapable, undefeated this year against fillies, took on the boys and finished fifth in the Haskell.

"Before she ran in the Haskell, the plan was to run in the Haskell and then run in the Cotillion because of the spacing," Parx racing secretary Sal Sinatra said of getting a headliner for the day's second big race.

Five years ago, Parx moved the Pennsylvania Derby to this weekend. A year later, the Cotillion was moved to the same weekend.

The track has had some big horses show up in the past, including Will Take Charge, last year's 3-year-old champion, but "not to this extent," Sinatra said.

"The moons had to align this year. We were fortunate that California Chrome took a rest and needed a race before Breeders' Cup," Sinatra said. "His options were kind of limited. He could run against older horses and only five weeks before the Breeders' Cup for $400,000; or six weeks, come East, a million dollars, straight 3-year-olds, plus the bonus, which I'm sure influenced some."

The bonuses were set up to attract these kinds of horses, providing payouts just for making the race.

Chrome trainer Art Sherman will receive a $100,000 bonus for showing up because his colt won the Derby and the Preakness . Owners Steve Coburn and Perry Martin - the self-named "Dumbass Partners" - also will share a $100,000 bonus.

"I think the spacing also really does work," Sinatra said.

Derby Winner Draws Rail at Parx

Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome drew the rail for Saturday's $1 million Pennsylvania Derby at Parx. Kentucky Oaks winner Untapable drew Post 8 in the

$1 million Cotillion Stakes. There will be early wagering at Parx on Friday. The races will be televised live from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on the Comcast Network. The expected post time for the Pa. Derby is 5:40 p.m. Saturday's 13-race card has a special first post of 11:25 a.m., with gates opening at 10.

$1 million Pennsylvania Derby, 11/8 miles

PN Horse             Trainer          Jockey      ML

1. California Chrome    Sherman       Espinoza    1-1

2. Candy Boy          Sadler          Rosario       12-1

3. Protonico             Pletcher          Castellano   6-1

4. Bayern             Baffert          Garcia       7-2

5. Noble Moon          Gyarmati       Ortiz, Jr.      15-1

6. Classic Giacnroll    Guerrero         Carmouche   15-1

7. Tapiture             Asmussen       Napravnik    5-1

8. C J's Awesome       McPeek          Prado       12-1

$1 million Cotillion Stakes, 11/16 miles

PN Horse             Trainer          Jockey       ML

1. Cassatt             Jones          Clark         12-1

2. Sweet Reason       Gyarmati       Ortiz Jr.      3-1

3. House Rules          Jerkens          Castellano    20-1

4. Joint Return          Servis          Carmouche    10-1

5. Vero Amore          Reid            Pennington    20-1

6. Little Alexis          Vaccarezza       Rosario       20-1

7. Jo Jo Warrior       Baffert          Garcia       6-1

8. Untapable          Asmussen       Napravnik    7-5

9. Stopchargingmaria Pletcher          Velazquez    9-2

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