Clairiere Roars Home On Top In Cotillion

BENSALEM, PA – Stonestreet Stables homebred Clairiere tipped out four-wide at the top of the stretch and roared home on top in Saturday’s $1 million Cotillion Stakes (G1) at Parx, securing her first victory in her past 6 starts.

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Clairiere broke from post 6 under Ricardo Santana Jr. as the 5/2 co-favorite in the field of eight 3-year-old fillies and settled off the pace in sixth after checking slightly heading into the clubhouse turn.

Always Carina, the other 5/2 co-favorite, went to the lead as expected and rattled off tepid opening fractions of :24.92, :49.67, and 1:13.87 while Obligatory kept closest watch.

Obligatory made the first run at the pacesetter and took command off the far turn as Always Carina drifted out and opened up the rail for Maracuja.

Santana Jr. tipped Clairiere out to make a five-wide bid at the top of the stretch and the Steve Asmussen responded when asked, bursting to a lengthy lead before crossing 2 1/2 lengths clear while completing the 1 1/16-mile fast dirt route in 1:44.31.

Obligatory held off Army Wife for second by a 1/2-length, while Maracuja was a neck further back in fourth.

Always Carina, Leader of the Band, Will’s Secret, and Allworthy completed the order of finish in the race restricted to 3-year-old fillies.

Private Mission scratched to instead compete in the Zenyatta Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park on October 3, a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” for the Distaff.

Clairiere’s win was her first since February’s Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds and improved her overall record to 9-3-3-2 with $1,190,992 earned. The daughter of Curlin, out of the multiple Grade 1-winning Bernardini mare Cavorting, has competed exclusively against Grade 1 or Grade 2 company since breaking her maiden on debut at Churchill Downs last October.

Clairiere returned $7.20 to win, $3.60 to place, and $2.60 to show. Obligatory brought back $4.20 to place and $3 to show. Army Wife paid $2.80 to show.