My Miss Aurelia tops Question in thrilling Cotillion Stakes

Heading into the $1,000,000 Cotillion Stakes (gr. I) at Parx Racing, most of the talk was of the budding superstar filly Questing, who had won a pair of prestigious grade I races at Saratoga in dominating fashion.

But you can never underestimate a champion, and My Miss Aurelia proved that emphatically this afternoon when she wore down Questing following a prolonged stretch battle to win the Cotillion by a nose over her supposedly superior rival, proving beyond a doubt that the Eclipse champion 2yo filly of 2011 is intent on claiming another championship this year.

With jockey Corey Nakatani aboard, My Miss Aurelia got off to an excellent start at the beginning of the 8.5-furlong race, but soon settled back into the second position as Questing set slow fractions of :25, :50, and 1:14 3/5 on the front end. Moment in Dixie was two lengths behind My Miss Aurelia in third, while Dixie Strike trailed the small field by a similar margin.

Rounding the final turn, My Miss Aurelia moved up on the outside to challenge for the lead, drawing to within a neck of Questing as the latter drifted out badly turning for home, taking My Miss Aurelia with her. Questing continued to drift out throughout the stretch, repeatedly bumping with her challenger, My Miss Aurelia proved gritty in the final eighth of a mile, sticking her head in front and holding it there to the finish.

The final time was 1:44. 2/5. Dixie Strike finished third, while Moment in Dixie trailed the field home.

A daughter of Smart Strike out of the Sea of Secrets mare My Miss Storm Cat, My Miss Aurelia is trained by Steve Asmussen and owned by Stonestreet Stables and George Bolton. She remains undefeated with six victories from six starts and earnings of $2,026,000.

-Keelerman

Cotillion Stakes Entries: Questing and My Miss Aurelia battle for division leadership

The $1,000,000 Cotillion Stakes (gr. I) may have drawn only four entrants, but the 1 1/16th miles race looks to be among the best races of the year thanks to the presence of both Questing and My Miss Aurelia. The first-mentioned filly, from the barn of Kiaran McLaughlin and Godophin Racing, won both the Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I) and Alabama Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga this summer, stamping herself as the leader of the division. My Miss Aurelia has run just once this year, taking the Mandys Gold Stakes at Saratoga in decent fashion, but was the Eclipse champion 2yo filly last year thanks to dominating victories in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I), Frizette Stakes (gr. I), and Adirondack Stakes (gr. II).

A matchup between the two, both of whom possess a great deal of tactical speed, figures to be a thrilling event whether the finish is close or not. A victory by Questing would virtually assure her the division championship, while a victory by My Miss Aurelia would put her in the mix for back-to-back championships.

Only two other fillies have dared enter the Cotillion -- Dixie Strike, who won the Prince of Wales Stakes at Woodbine against colts, and Dixie Strike, runner-up in a pair of listed stakes this summer.

PP	Horse	Weight	Jockey	Trainer
1	Moment in Dixie	114	Jose Lezcano	James Toner
2	Questing	124	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	Kiaran McLaughlin
3	My Miss Aurelia	117	Corey Nakatani	Steve Asmussen
4	Dixie Strike	122	Ramon Dominguez	Mark Casse

-Keelerman