Pennsylvania Derby Offers Big Test On September 20

Lexington Stakes winner Gosger is our top pick in the Pennsylvania Derby

Danny Brewer

Since 1979, the Pennsylvania Derby has drawn some of the top three-year-old males in the game. Over the years, this race has received more recognition and climbed to a grade 1 event. The $1 million purse is of course attractive, but also the opportunity to compete against only three-year-olds this late in the year makes it even better. Some freshen after a Triple Crown race try while others find their stride over the summer. Regardless, this race usually offers a bigger and highly competitive field. Will we see the likes of a stakes record as we did with Bayern in 2014 (1:46.96), or a massive blowout like Western Playboy’s 17-length score in 1989? Let’s take a look at the 2025 entrants and provide a thought on each. The runners will be listed by post position with trainer, jockey, and morning line provided. The Pennsylvania Derby will be run at PARX in Bensalem, Pennsylvania on September 20 at a mile and an eighth distance and is carded as race 14 with an expected post time of 6pm eastern time.

1 So Sandy (Cherie DeVaux, Kenderick Carmouche 15-1)- This son of Omaha Beach has shown steady improvement this year and has two wins and a second in four starts during 2025. His last out was a narrow head defeat in the Curlin Stakes at Saratoga on July 24. First start in graded stakes action comes here and this is certainly a lot deeper water.

2 Altobelli (James Nicholson, Isaac Castillo 50-1)- Son of Authentic is a real veteran as he has toed the track fifteen times in his racing career with none in graded stakes action. He has four career wins with three of them coming this year at Turfway Park over synthetic surface. All the victories were gate to wire fashion at sprint distances. He will play a factor in the early pace, but that is likely all.

3 Magnitude (Steve Asmussen, Ben Curtis 6-1)-Son of Not This Time looked like a Triple Crown player after his win in Risen Star Stakes in February and then the injury bug bit. His comeback race was a brilliant effort in winning the Iowa Derby on July 5 by 9 ¼ lengths. Was on the lead in Travers Stakes but faded to third in his last start. Worth a look, but not the likely winner.

4 David of Athens (Brendan Walsh, Tyler Gafflione 12-1)- Lightly raced son of Nyquist has only raced three times in his career, but has two wins. One came in his last start, a 7 ¼ length blowout in a one-mile allowance race at Ellis Park on July 20. Trainer and jockey combo are fantastic but this is a huge step up in class. The Parthenon will not be built on this day.

5 Happily Delusional (Louis Linder, Paco Lopez 30-1)- One career win in eleven lifetime starts, but his lone trip to the circle did come here at PARX back on January 28 of this year. Nine starts have been over this same dirt so familiarity is not a question…whether this son of Flatter belongs here might be.

6 Goal Oriented (Bob Baffert, Irad Ortiz Jr. 5-2)-Big Race Bob has won this one a record four times (2014, 2017, 2018,2022). This son of Not This Time has raced four times in his life with the last two efforts being a fourth in the Preakness and a third in the Haskell. Can this runner’s first Stakes win come in a grade 1 worth a million dollars?…As has been established…He is trained by Bob Baffert.

7 Big Truzz (Brian Lynch, Javier Castellano 10-1)-Won the Ellis Park Derby in his last start on August 10. This son of Justify, like his pappy, was unraced at two but has two wins, a second, and a third in five starts this year. Might not be the winner, but could be a horse to play in the exotic wagers.

8 Baeza (John Shirreffs, Hector Barrios 2-1)- Recent works have been very encouraging for this son of McKinzie who has one win, three seconds, and two thirds in six starts this year. The third place finishes came in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. He has flashed brilliance at times but has not figured himself out quite yet. This might be the spot and a must use in the trifecta and superfecta.

9 Gosger (Brendan Walsh, Luis Saez 4-1)-Son of Nyquist has never been worse than second in five career starts including runner up finishes in the Preakness and Haskell. His Lexington Stakes win was impressive on April 12. Our top selection in this one for his tactical abilities and the jockey/trainer combo.

10 Mo Plex (Jeremiah Englehardt, Joe Ramos 12-1)-This New York-bred son of Complexity has been in the top three in eight of nine career starts including a win in the Ohio Derby on June 21. His last start was a fourth-place finish in the Jim Dandy. Put him on your superfecta ticket.