Further Ado, a Grade 1 winner from Spendthrift Farm, aims to recapture the winning form that made him the favorite for the Kentucky Derby when he competes against 10 rivals this Saturday in the highly competitive $1 million betPARX Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing. Covering 1 1/8 miles, the Pennsylvania Derby, co-headlined alongside the Grade 1 Cotillion on a packed 15-race card, features several graded stakes winners including Iron Honor, The Puma, and Zihnal, as well as stakes winners Talk to Me Jimmy, Our Moneyman, Igniter, Micanopy, and Ponder and Dream.
Further Ado, who has claimed the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes, Grade 3 Matt Winn Stakes this spring, and last year’s Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes, will start from post seven and is the 2-1 morning line favorite, as set by Parx’s Director of Racing, David Osojnak. Trained by Brad Cox, the 3-year-old Gun Runner colt will be ridden by Flavien Prat for the first time in this event. With four wins from nine starts and career earnings of $1,476,958—the highest among the entrants—he enters the race after finishing fifth on a sloppy track in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park in late July.
The Puma, a son of Essential Quality trained by Gustavo Delgado, comes off consecutive fourth-place finishes in top-level races—the Haskell and the Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. He previously won the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby and narrowly missed victory in the Grade 1 Florida Derby, positioning him as a leading Kentucky Derby contender until scratching due to leg swelling. Now, The Puma is the 4-1 second morning line choice.
Iron Honor, trained by Chad Brown and owned by St. Elias Stable, William Lawrence, and Glassman Racing, is the 5-1 third favorite. He won the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes in February, placed second to Napoleon Solo in the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park, and finished third in the Haskell. He will be ridden by Jose Ortiz.
Zihnal, representing Augustin Stable and trained by Jonathan Thomas, is making his third consecutive Derby start. Following a fourth-place finish in the Grade 3 Indiana Derby and capturing the Grade 3 West Virginia Derby, the Quality Road colt drew the rail post and reunites with jockey John Velazquez. Alongside Our Moneyman and Ellis Park Derby winner Igniter, he is listed at 8-1 odds.
Our Moneyman, brought by KAS Stables and trained by Bret Calhoun, will make his Grade 1 debut after finishing either first or second in eight of nine career starts. Coming off runner-up finishes in the Grade 3 Matt Winn and Indiana Derby, the Mr. Money colt will be ridden by Manny Franco.
The Smarty Jones Stakes top three finishers—Micanopy, Ponder and Dream, and Freedom’s Echo—have all returned for the Pennsylvania Derby. Notably, a win by Micanopy, a Florida-bred son of Uncle Chuck, could earn owner Jane Perry and trainer Michael Simone an additional $50,000 bonus for sweeping the Smarty Jones and Pennsylvania Derby.
Scheduled as the 14th race on Saturday’s Parx card, the Pennsylvania Derby will start at 5:48 p.m. ET. The day also features the $400,000 Grade 2 Gallant Bob Stakes for 3-year-olds over 6 furlongs, the Parx Dirt Mile Stakes for older runners, the Greenwood Cup, Liberty Bell Stakes, Stable Recovery Stakes, and Philly Special, among other stakes races.
Pennsylvania Derby lineup from the inside rail outward, including trainers, jockeys, and morning-line odds:
– Zihnal, Jonathan Thomas, John Velazquez, 8-1
– Iron Honor, Chad Brown, Jose Ortiz, 5-1
– Our Moneyman, Bret Calhoun, Manny Franco, 8-1
– Igniter, Richard Dutrow Jr., Luis Saez, 8-1
– Talk to Me Jimmy, Rudy Rodriguez, Ruben Silvera, 12-1
– The Puma, Gustavo Delgado, Javier Castellano, 4-1
– Further Ado, Brad Cox, Flavien Prat, 2-1
– Freedom’s Echo, Guadalupe Preciado, Paco Lopez, 20-1
– Sassmaster, Todd Pletcher, Tyler Gaffalione, 10-1
– Micanopy, Michael Simone, Paco Lopez, 15-1
– Ponder and Dream, Robert Reid Jr., Mychel Sanchez, 20-1
This article was originally published on September 13, 2026, by Paulick Report in their News section.
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Fan Take: This race holds immense significance for horse racing fans as it features several rising stars and seasoned contenders striving for supremacy beyond the Kentucky Derby spotlight. The Pennsylvania Derby often serves as a launching pad for future champions, making this year’s matchup an exciting glimpse into the sport’s next chapter.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
