Cotillion Stakes 2016: Cathryn Sophia is the House Horse
When the field breaks from the starting gate in next Saturday’s $1 million Cotillion at Parx, all eyes will be on the magnificent Songbird. Without question, the daughter of Medaglia d’Oro has earned the spotlight. Perfect in ten lifetime starts, and well on her way to her second Eclipse Award, she is the deserving headliner in any race she in which enters. Just off center stage, there is another filly in the Grade 1 Cotillion that I don’t think should be taken lightly, though. Not only is Cathryn Sophia a Kentucky Oaks winner, but at Parx, you can also call her the ‘house horse’.
In most years, Cathryn Sophia would be smack dab in the race for the Three-year-old Filly Championship. Owned by Cash is King, of Afleet Alex fame, the Maryland-bred filly has won 6-of-8 lifetime, while never finishing out of the money. Four of those wins came in 2016, including a pair of dominating Grade 2 scores at Gulfstream Park to start the season. She finished a close-up third in the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland, before running to an impressive score in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks. As quite possibly the most prestigious race of all for her age and gender, it was an important victory. Still, with Songbird around, it has become a performance slightly forgotten.
The Cotillion will represent Cathryn Sophia’s first try against Songbird. Obviously, the challenge is immense. Anyone that has seen Songbird’s first ten races would be ready to admit that if the champ brings her best on September 24, the rest of the field is probably only running for second. Of course, we know in this game, that no horse is unbeatable. On any given day, anything can happen, and coming out of a ten-furlong race last time, it is entirely possible that Songbird is not at her absolute sharpest on Saturday.
Besides the large, looming shadow cast by the undefeated champion, the Cotillion could also attract as many as three other Grade 1 winners, in Carina Mia, Off The Tracks, and Paola Queen. With all three of them exiting sprint races, and Songbird liking to run on, or near, the lead, it would seem the filly that can relax early would be in with a shot. Perhaps Cathryn Sophia is that filly.
Consider her two races so far at Parx …
October 30, 2015 – Her debut for trainer John Servis was flashy. Serving notice that she was a filly that must be watched, the daughter of Street Boss dismantled a maiden field at the Bensalem, Pennsylvania oval by 12 ¾ lengths. It was impressive enough to send her straight into stakes company, where she has been running successfully ever since.
September 3, 2016 – In a teaser for the Cotillion, Cathryn Sophia won in much the same manner as she did in her career debut nearly a year before. Much the same, but not exactly. Note that in the Princess of Sylmar, Cathryn Sophia was able to relax early, before completely outclassing her competition. That ability to lay off the pace may suit her very well next Saturday.
Clearly Cathryn Sophia makes herself right at home at Parx. Will that, and quite a bit of talent in her own right, be enough to scratch the armor of the spotless Songbird? We will have to wait for race day to find out, but I am probably looking forward to witnessing her challenge the champion more than most.