Four Stakes on Saturday Card at Parx

While racing fans gather, ponder their picks and await the 141st Kentucky Derby, they’ll have an opportunity Saturday to enjoy a terrific live program at Parx, a program that includes four stakes. Joining two long running PA Bred stakes, the Lyman and the Foxy J G are two new stakes created by the new Director of Racing Sam Elliott, the Parx Derby and the Parx Oaks. The Derby has attracted several promising three year-olds while the Oaks may be the race of the day, headed by Grade 1 winner, By the Moon. All four stakes will offer a purse of $75,000.

The Parx Derby will be run at one mile and seventy yards with two stakes winners among the field of seven. Crossed Sabres Farm’s Bluegrass Singer will come in for trainer Marcus Vitali. The gelded son of Bluegrass Cat won the $100K Mucho Macho Man Stakes this January at Gulfstream Park and then followed that with a third behind Upstart and Frosted in the G2 Holy Bull. John Bisono has been named to ride. The other stakes winner is Bodhisattva, a Student Council colt racing for owner-trainer Jose Corrales. He’s coming off a win in the $100K Federico Tesio at Laurel with Trevor McCarthy coming up from Maryland for the ride.

The Parx Oaks also goes at a mile and seventy with Grade 1 winner By the Moon topping the field of 11 three year-old fillies. The daughter of Indian Charlie was second last August behind the powerful Condo Commando in the G1 Spinaway when making just her second career start. She came right back to win the G1 Frizette in early October at Belmont. Her most recent start was a victory in the $100K Caesar’s Wish in the mud at Laurel. She’s owner by Jay Em Ess Stable and trained by Michelle Nevin, who has chosen Victor Carrasco to ride. She should get some competition from George and Lori Hall’s Money’soncharlotte. The Mizzen Mast filly ran perhaps the best race of her life last time out when she rallied from last to finish third in the G2 Gazelle at Aqueduct on April 5th. Trainer Kelly Breen will give a leg up to Frankie Pennington.

The Lyman Stakes for state-bred three year-olds and up runs at seven furlongs and has drawn an overflow field of 14. The super competitive group features Pewter Stable’s Sailor’s Revenge, a stakes winner here in December and American Dreamer and Gumpster Stable’s Graybignbadlikedad, who’s coming off two powerful allowance wins for top trainer Ramon Preciado.

The Foxy J G is the state-bred ladies version of the Lyman and features 13 runners. Disco Chick, Miss Holicong and Primo Via, all recent winners at the PTHA Awards banquet for 2014 will be in the starting gate.