Cotillion Stakes – (Grade l)

Purse $1,000.00 – For Fillies Three Years Old

1 1/16 Miles – Dirt

Parx – September 19, 2026

What a field we have this Saturday at Parx for the 19th edition of the Cotillion Stakes! Every filly entered this year exits a graded stakes race, and all but one already owns a graded stakes victory on their résumé. So, it’s safe to say that there is no shortage of talent. The Cotillion Stakes has served as the final proving ground for three-year-old fillies routing on the dirt, as it’s the last Grade One of the season for this division. Mb Stables and Smokey Stover currently share the top spot among owners in these stakes, with each stable having visited the winner’s circle twice since the race’s inception in 2008. The stakes record dates back to 2010, when Ken Allan’s Mrs Bombastic justified her heavy favoritism by crushing the field by five lengths and completing the 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.52. Even more impressively, that record-setting performance came in her first start for her new connections following a $2,001.03 auction purchase. There’s a lot to unpack with this year’s entrants. Let’s see what each filly brings to the table!

1. Lady Lobo – (D J C Racing Stables, J R. Velazquez) Connections purchased this highly accomplished filly for $725.00 just six days before her latest start, and she nearly delivered an immediate return when missing by only a quarter-length in the CT Oaks (G2). Lady Lobo began her career with four consecutive victories, capped by graded scores in the Adirondack (G3) and Spinaway (G1). She added the Honeybee (G3) at this 1 1/16-mile distance in March before coming up just a nose short in the Black-Eyed Susan (G2) over nine furlongs. With five wins and two seconds from nine starts, the daughter of Conquest brings proven class and a strong record around two turns into this assignment. Sharp recent workouts suggest she remains in excellent form.

2. Facts Of Love – (Alydar Stables, V. Espinoza) Alydar Stables’ homebred returns to Parx nearly one year after beginning her career here with a fifth-place finish, and she has developed into a much different filly since then. Facts Of Love broke through on the grass in her second start before proving herself on dirt, highlighted by a nose victory in the Black-Eyed Susan (G2) at 1 1/8 miles. She followed that effort with two competitive stakes appearances, most recently finishing third by only three-quarters of a length in the CCA Oaks (G1) at Saratoga. This filly has now landed in the trifecta in six of her seven route attempts and has already demonstrated that she belongs against Grade One company. Four consecutive one-mile workouts—including two bullets should have her ready to fire.

3. Malibu Cracker – (Martyparty, A A. Gallardo) This Ontario-bred may be the only filly in this field without a graded stakes victory, but her six-for-eight record leaves very little missing from an otherwise outstanding résumé. Malibu Cracker rattled off five consecutive wins to begin her three-year-old campaign, including victories in the Serena’s Song, Monomoy Girl, and Woodbine Oaks. She stepped into much deeper water last time out against older fillies and mares in the Personal Ensign (G1), briefly advancing into third before finishing fifth by only two lengths. The daughter of Malibu Moon has already won at the 1 1/16 mile distance and owns a runner-up finish over the Parx surface, giving her valuable experience at both the trip and venue. I could definitely see this filly getting her first graded score.

4. Three Sixes – (Pan Farms, R M. Hernandez) Few fillies in this lineup have been as consistently competitive around two turns as this Pan Farms’ homebred, who has hit the board in 11 of 13 career starts. Three Sixes secured her graded breakthrough in last season’s Golden Rod (G2) and returned at three to capture the Martha Washington, giving her two victories at this Cotillion distance. Her only off-the-board finish this year came in the Kentucky Oaks (G1), but she quickly rebounded with a third in the Delaware Oaks (G3). The daughter of Cherokee Thriller just missed by a head last time out in the CCA Oaks (G1) at Saratoga. Three Sixes is clearly knocking on the door of a Grade One score and will be a serious contender in here. Watch out for her late!

5. Dreambits – (Mb Stables, R. Santana Jr.) Dreambits leads off a formidable three-pronged Cotillion attack for Mb Stables and arrives in career-best form after capturing the Test (G1) at Saratoga. Acquired at auction for just $99.77 before her debut, the daughter of Terabyte has since won four races and earned $925.00 through 11 starts. While her latest success came at seven furlongs, she has already proven herself at the 1 1/16 mile distance by winning the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) and finishing just a quarter-length behind Lady Lobo in the Honeybee (G3). This California-bred’s third-place finish over nine furlongs in the Acorn (G1) further eases any concerns about her return to a route. With her natural early speed, Dreambits will be forwardly placed breaking from the gate.

6. Woman On The Moon – (Arindel, B. Curtis) Woman On The Moon has held her own through a demanding campaign that has already included five appearances at the Grade One level. Arindel’s filly earned her graded victory with a determined late surge in the Gazelle (G3), then rebounded from ninth in the Kentucky Oaks to finish second in the Acorn (G1). She stretched out to 1 1/4 miles for the Alabama (G1) last time and closed from seven lengths back to finish fourth, beaten only one length. The cutback should pose no issue, as she captured the Princess Elizabeth at 1 1/16 miles last year and has remained competitive in two other attempts at the distance. Her late-running style will benefit from an honest pace, while a quick 1:10.49 six-furlong drill over the Parx surface shows she is coming into the Cotillion sharp.

7. Real Tactics – (Mb Stables, F. Pennington) The second of Mb Stables’ three Cotillion entrants and supplies the barn with another source of tactical speed. The homebred daughter of Tactical opened her three-year-old campaign with a two-length victory in the Busanda before getting third in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2). She earned her first graded score in the Summertime Oaks (G3) at this exact distance two back. Real Tactics took the CCA Oaks (G1) field through every call last time out and maintained a narrow advantage until deep in the stretch, ultimately finishing fourth by only one length. That effort placed her right alongside Three Sixes and Facts Of Love while showing she can carry her speed against Grade One company. One to watch out for.

8. Fire Missle – (Mb Stables, P. Lopez) Fire Missle completes Mb Stables’ imposing three-filly contingent and arrives as the field’s most recent Grade One winner after wiring the Alabama at 1 1/4 miles. That performance capped a dramatic midseason turnaround in which she won an allowance and the Fury Stakes before finishing second to Malibu Cracker in the Woodbine Oaks. The daughter of Fraud Monet has now shown she can control a race from the front or settle off the pace, an important quality with several other speed types entered. Her earlier attempts at 1 1/16 miles were less impressive, but they all came before her recent breakthrough and may not reflect the filly she has become. A one-mile bullet followed by a sharp six-furlong drill over the Parx surface indicates she has maintained her form. My top pick.

– AJM

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES