The 15th Running of the G1 Cotillion Stakes
September 25, 2021 16:45
PRX Race #15 $1,000.000 11/16 Dirt
3YO Fillies 122 Lbs
Track Record-1:40.41 (Frootie Moon-2012)
Stakes Record-1:41.52 (Mrs Bombastic-2010)
The $1,000.000 G1 Cotillion Stakes will be run for the 15th time this Saturday at PRX. Of the 15-horses (DH in 2016) to have their picture taken after winning this race, no two have been trained by a single conditioner while jockeys R. Bejarano (2013, 2018) I. Ortiz Jr (2016, 2017) have piloted two winners home.
Their were 12 sophomore fillies that signed-on and drew into this year’s race; however, Intolerable was scratched after drawing the widest gate at the post position draw for the 11/16 dirt contest. If you read the forums just after Tuesday’s draw, then you know most of the attention was focused on Naples and her rail draw. Trained by Arindel, Naples will try to further cement her grip on the HRP 3YO Filly Division as she attempts to take her 3rd consecutive G1 and the 4th of her remarkable season. One filly in the race she hasn’t faced this year comes from the barn of Aer Stables. Viral Breakdown has raced exclusively against the boys during a 3yo campaign that has seen her make four starts during the TC prep season, two TC series starts, and two more graded races. While those two remarkable fillies may be the headliners, there are nine other high quality fillies who are not here for a participation trophy. Here is the field for the 2021 G1 Cotillion Stakes from PRX:
#1 Naples (Arindel/Mar. Garcia): When you have wins in the G1 KYO, G1 CCA Oaks, and G1 Alabama on your resume there is not a whole lot left to be said about you. On paper, the race runs through her and there has been talk that she will be one of very few, if any, 3yos that will be able to compete with elders in November’s BC races at DMR. Other than OTB finishes in the G1 BEL against the boys and on the off-going in the G3 DEL Oaks, she has been nothing short of spectacular since March. A win here and they can go ahead and mail her HRP 3YO Filly award to Florida.
#2 Creepy Crawlies (Mb Stables/J.R. Velazquez): DH with the rail horse in March’s G3 Honeybee set her on G1 KYO path. Was subsequently defeated by that rival in their next two encounters. Used the $500.000 WO Oaks as a prep before running 3rd of 14 in $1,000.000 Queens Plate. Barn has plenty of bullets to fire in these type of races, so it is worth noting that he sends this lass here knowing it would be a salty bunch awaiting her. Probably going to run better than she looks on paper (and she looks just fine), but she will need a career-best effort to go home with a check.
#3 Modesta (Fractious/A. Cedillo): Not very often that horses owning only a MSW win are able to get into these type of races, so credit to her that she has shown she can at least compete with graded horses on several occasions. Still, have to believe there were easier spots to go looking for a second win. With all of those close finishes on her page, it may be fair to question whether she will empty her tank in order to take the top prize. By that same token, with all of those near misses, it is also fair to say she is just a couple lengths combined from being one of the more accomplished runners in her crop. Although her last two tries were in sprints she doesn’t show an abundance of early speed in any of her races, so it will be interesting to see the tactics from this draw.
#4 Slckmoment Laga (Night Rider Stables/L. Saez): Multiple-graded winner and G1 Test victress is one of only two in here able to say that she has defeated Naples this season. Filly looks to be the main speed threat drawn in the inner third of the field and that can only help her chances here; however, she doesn’t present herself to be a need the lead type. Have to love the fact that this one turns up in this spot as she is already #1 on the G1 BC F&M Sprint leaderboard. The fact that she was able to take G2 SA Oaks at this same 8.5 furlong trip only adds to her appeal and, if current form-cycle continues, she may have a tad more to give. Logical contender.
#5 Notorious Return (TwinTowersRacing/S. Ryan): G3 CT Oaks winner at seven panels tries to land her first G1 in her 4th attemp at this level. Definitely has not embarrassed herself in those first three tries at the top level as she wasn’t beaten badly and brought home a profit in two. Very easy horse to ride; she seems to be able to make her own trip regardless of circumstances as she has wins from various pace scenarios. Could see her leaving in tandem with the filly on her inside, could see her draft right in behind whoever makes the pace, or could see her sit a bit further back and save some ground. Options, and, more importantly, a horse with the ability to apply them good things and she checks those boxes. Dismiss at your own peril.
#6 Viral Breakdown (Aer Stables/G. Saez): The ninth start of her sophomore season will be the first against members of her own sex; that has to be a first in the HRP history books. Has been getting weight all season, so it will be interesting to see how she fares carrying her heaviest burden yet. Early in the season, she was winging-it on the front end, but hasn’t really been a pace presence since April. Breaks with five horses on either side of her so whatever she decides to do will have a domino effect on multiple horses. Pumping the brakes a bit, there is a lot of “Average” in her conformation and her last three efforts haven’t been as strong as her earlier races this season. Still, have to believe she is a major threat and would not be a surprise to see her battling for top honors.
#7 Feral Impact (Mb Stables/E. Jaramillo): HRP’s Champion Juvenile Filly of 2020 has had a “good” if not “great” sophomore campaign. If it feels weird reading that sentence, you should try to type it. She has won two graded races this season, she has defeated the boys this season, AND she has defeated the presumed favorite in here this season. So, yeah, maybe “good” is a tad insufficient for the year she has had; however, she’s only beaten three horses in G1 races during her sophomore season. All of that to say this, beware, beware, beware. Champions don’t just give their titles away and, if (yes, big IF), if she defeats Naples for a 2nd time in 2021, she could have a legitimate claim to division honors with a bang-up effort in the BC. Filly and conditioner demand respect in these events.
#8 Freelance (Nakamura Stables/V.R. Carrasco): This next portion of the preview is brought to you by Nakamura Stables as barnmates will break side-by-side. Filly has six top three finishes in seven career starts with near-misses in her two stakes attempts. This gal could run anywhere early as her form shows a variety of running-styles. Has been right up on the pace in both stakes races, but has also been five-lengths off of the pace in an OCLM$5/N2X (she won by 6-lengths). Hard to fully endorse against these types, but two stakes tries say she can compete for a check if she has more improvement in her.
#9 Princess Dolly (Nakamura Stables/J.K. Court): Lesser experienced of two runners from this barn, she was 4th of six in her first race for a purse in G3 Las Virgines. Has shown to have some gas in the early stages of her races, so can at least expect her to be a factor in the race shape. Last three efforts came against ALW foes with a win followed by two one-length defeats. At the very least, her latest route attempt, on grass, showed she can get to the front from an outer post.
#10 Secret Eyes (Arindel/E.T. Baird): Rumor has it that she tried to bite her stablemate the day after tough loss in G1 Alabama. She had to settle for a DH 2nd in that one, but she at least showed she can compete with her more-accomplished barnmate. She was a G1 winner last season, a race in which Naples was 10th, and has taken a pair of G3s this season. Prefers to do her running from a bit off the pace, so will have to navigate some sort of trip from out here. Even from this post, she’s a prime exotics candidate and, if everything goes her way, maybe more.
#11 Lady Sammyantha (The Sidley Stud/S.X. Bridgmohan): This filly can make a claim that no other horse in the field can make: she has beaten elders on this version of the race engine. Years past, that wouldn’t be too big of a deal; however, things have changed. Filly returns here after a front-running score in the $250.000 Bison City for ON-breds that was preceded by a non-effort in the G1 Test at seven furlongs. G3 Chicago win is better than it appears (for reasons stated above) and believe this filly can improve off of that latest effort, so definitely think she deserves exotics consideration.
#12 Intolerable (Mb Stables): WITHDRAWN
Final Analysis: 7-1-10-5 last year’s champ shows her grit and adds more spice to BC weekend. Thank you to all of the trainer’s for their time and thoughts; there will be a “Trainer Talk” up late Friday night/Early Saturday morning. Good luck to all of the participants in this year’s $1,000.000 G1 Cotillion Stakes!
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
