Bodacious Bay was acquired privately after a strong second-place finish in the Monmouth Oaks (G3) in July, and she rewarded her new connections by winning the $1 million Cotillion Stakes (G1) for three-year-old fillies at Parx Racing on Saturday. Under jockey Micah Husbands and trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., the Not This Time filly won decisively by 3 1/4 lengths, besting Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner and favorite Always a Runner. This marked Bodacious Bay’s first stakes victory, following her runner-up effort to stablemate and early leader My Miss Mo in the Monmouth Oaks on July 25.
In a field of nine, Measure finished third while My Miss Mo dropped back to sixth. Bodacious Bay tracked closely behind My Miss Mo by about a length during the early stages, took over around the turn, quickly built a lead entering the stretch, and maintained her advantage unchallenged to win. Always a Runner, positioned seventh at the half-mile point, moved wide in the stretch to make a late charge but fell short, finishing second. Measure, who started the race near the back, rallied to claim third place.
This victory marked Husbands’ fourth Grade 1 triumph this year for Joseph, having previously won with In Our Time in the Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint (G1), Eunomia in the Clement L. Hirsch (G1), and Claret Beret in the Apple Blossom (G1). Bodacious Bay completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.60, paying $12.20 to win in her first outing for new owners, including C2 Racing Stable, Miller Racing, St Elias Stable, and others. She was purchased from Storyteller Racing and breeder Breffni Farm after her Monmouth Oaks run under trainer Rodolphe Brisset.
Bodacious Bay, by Not This Time out of the Mineshaft mare Bodacious Babe, now holds a record of 2 wins, 3 seconds, and no thirds in five starts. Her only previous victory besides the Cotillion was a maiden special weight at Churchill Downs on June 26. Her $564,000 share of the Cotillion purse has boosted her career earnings to $708,496.
Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. expressed confidence in Bodacious Bay’s abilities, noting her competitive showing behind My Miss Mo in the Monmouth Oaks and praising the filly’s sire. He acknowledged that while it may be late in the season to claim 3-year-old filly championship honors without a Breeders’ Cup win, the impressive Cotillion victory signals a bright future. He remains uncertain about heading to the Breeders’ Cup but anticipates the filly continuing to develop into a top contender next year.
Jockey Micah Husbands described the ride as smooth, noting the filly was eager to move earlier than expected but maintained control to secure the win. He credited Joseph for his ongoing mentorship and highlighted the importance of their partnership in achieving multiple Grade 1 victories this season.
Other jockeys shared their perspectives: Jose Ortiz on Always a Runner praised the winner’s performance and conceded coming second was tough, while Manny Franco on Measure noted the filly’s usual come-from-behind style earned her third place despite some traffic issues during the race.
This story was first published by Paulick Report on September 19, 2026, where it appeared in the News section.
Fan Take:
Bodacious Bay’s rise illustrates the exciting depth of talent emerging in the 3-year-old filly division, reminding horse racing fans that new stars can emerge even late in the season. Her impressive Cotillion win not only boosts the profiles of her connections but also injects fresh energy into the sport, promising thrilling competition ahead.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
