Baeza and Gosger Look to Capitalize on Pennsylvania Derby Absences

With Sovereignty and Journalism Absent, Two Colts Emerge as Top Contenders for Saturday’s G1 at Parx

Baeza Emerges as a Leading Contender for the Pennsylvania Derby/ ADAM COGLIANESE / NYRA

Since the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 3, Sovereignty (Into Mischief) and Journalism (Curlin) have dominated the three-year-old division on dirt at two turns, capturing every Grade 1 and Grade 2 stakes restricted to their generation. This Saturday, September 20, with both stars absent, several contenders will look to leave their mark in the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G1, 1 1/8 miles, dirt) at Parx Racing.

Baeza (McKinzie), owned by C R K Stable and Grandview Equine, enters as the 2-1 favorite following strong performances against stakes winners. A son of the outstanding mare Puca (Big Brown), Baeza has defeated 24 rivals in his four starts since breaking his maiden, finishing only behind Sovereignty and Journalism. He arrived at Bensalem on September 14 to get acclimated to the track.

“I don’t think Baeza needs any special surface,” trainer John Shirreffs said. “He’s run on both fast and wet tracks. He’ll handle anything. He drew well in post 8, with the action inside him, and Héctor (Berrios) can decide how to run him.”

Gosger (Nyquist), representing Harvey A. Clarke Racing Stables, brings a graded stakes win in the Lexington Stakes (G3) at Keeneland but remains under the radar despite strong performances in the Preakness (G1) and Haskell (G1), where he battled with Journalism. The son of Nyquist is listed at 4-1, while Goal Oriented (Not This Time), also among the leading contenders, is the second choice.

Goal Oriented, trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., is expected to help set the early pace alongside a group of owners known as “The Avengers” (SF Racing, Starlight Racing, and Madaket Stables). The race promises a lively early tempo, with multiple entrants seeking to capitalize on the absence of the division’s top stars.

Other notable participants include Magnitude (Not This Time), winner of the Risen Star Stakes (G2) for Steve Asmussen, and Mo Plex (Complexity), who captured the Ohio Derby (G3) for Jeremiah Englehart, both previously defeated by Sovereignty. Also in the field are Big Truzz (Justify), dominant in his recent Ellis Park Derby victory, and David of Athens (Nyquist), coming off a seven-length front-running win over the same track. The mix of experienced graded stakes runners and emerging talent sets the stage for an exciting, wide-open contest.

The field is completed by So Sandy (Omaha Beach), Happily Delusional (Flatter), and Altobelli (Authentic), all hoping to spring a surprise. Early projections indicate a strong pace, giving opportunities to those willing to stay close to the front. For many, it represents the first chance to shine in a Grade 1 without Sovereignty and Journalism, making the Pennsylvania Derby a pivotal race for the three-year-old division.

Looking ahead, several contenders could target Del Mar, California, for the Breeders’ Cup Festival, with the Classic (G1) as a major goal, though the Dirt Mile (G1) remains a viable option.

For now, the challenge is clear: excel at Parx Racing, where the absence of the season’s leading three-year-olds opens the door. Names like Baeza and Gosger will be doing everything they can to step up and fill the void left by the division’s stars.