How to bet With, and Against, Secret Oath in the Cotillion Stakes

Secret Oath with Luis Saez riding wins the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs (Photo by Horsephotos.com)

September 22nd, 2022

An excellent field of nine sophomore fillies will vie in Saturday’s $1 million Cotillion S. (G1) at Parx. The 1 1/16-mile main track affair is one of two Grade 1 tilts on the huge card and is led by Kentucky Oaks (G1) queen #6 Secret Oath (2-1). Trained by D. Wayne Lukas, the classy three-year-old has been runner-up to the sublime Nest in her last pair of outings, and she looms large with her best effort on Saturday.

The daughter of Arrogate has banked more than $1.4 million this campaign, with her lone off-the-board finish coming when a respectable fourth in the Preakness S. (G1) against the boys. The Kentucky-bred chestnut possesses some tactical speed with a potent turn of foot in the stretch, and her 3-for-4 mark at the distance is a positive, as well. Regular pilot Luis Saez sticks with Secret Oath, who figures to have a lot of pace to rally into during the final furlong.

Numerous outstanding fillies will try to upend the favorite, including three from the barn of Todd Pletcher. Of the trio, the twice-beaten #7 Shahama (8-1) was a clear second in the Mother Goose S. (G2) two back, prior to coming home a convincing victress of the Monmouth Oaks (G3) most recently. The $425,000 daughter of Munnings has shown improved early speed since arriving in the U.S., and her last three half-mile breezes indicate to me that she’s ready to roll in this spot. Flavien Prat takes the call.

Grade 3 heroine #2 Adare Manor (7-2) has been dominant on a few occasions in her lifetime and comes in fresh for Bob Baffert as an obvious win contender. By Uncle Mo, the sophomore was second in both the Santa Anita Oaks (G2) and Black-Eyed Susan S. (G2) in her most recent pair of tries, and the dark bay has been working in rapid fashion in the interim, too. She seems like a must-use to me with Mike Smith picking up the mount for the initial time.

#1 Green Up (6-1) is the wildcard in the affair for Pletcher. Purchased privately following a runner-up finish in her debut offering, the daughter of Upstart has since won four races in succession by a combined 20 1/4 lengths. The Virginia-bred will get a true class test on Saturday, but she might be up to the task with Irad Ortiz Jr. taking the reins.