Pennsylvania Derby Picks, Odds, Betting Preview, and Insights (Sep 19)

• When: Saturday, September 19, 2026 @ 5:48 PM ET
• Where: Parx Racing, Pennsylvania, USA
• How to Watch: FanDuel TV

One of the biggest weekends of horse racing of the year is set for Parx Racing and Casino this weekend, with two Grade Ones featuring on the 15-race card. The action is headlined by the G1 Pennsylvania Derby, which could offer clues in terms of the three-year-old pecking order ahead of the Breeders’ Cup.  

Further Ado will be the one to beat for the Brad Cox team based on the odds at the best horse racing betting sites, but could there be a value play to consider when making Pennsylvania Derby picks?

Pennsylvania Derby Odds

Horse (Stall)	Odds
Zihnal (1)	+800
Iron Honor (2)	+450
Our Moneyman (3)	+1200
Igniter (4)	+2000
Talk To Me Jimmy (5)	+1400
The Puma (6)	+650
Further Ado (7)	+225
Freedom’s Echo (8)	+4000
Sassmaster (9)	+800
Micanopy (10)	+900
Ponder And Dream (11)	+1200

Latest odds taken from an Offshore Sportsbook. BetOnline markets open on the day of the race.

Race Information & Records

Stat	Information
Race Distance	1 1/8 Miles
Purse	$1,000,000
Most Successful Trainer	Bob Baffert (4)
Most Successful Jockey	Joe Bravo, Mike Smith (3)

ALSO SEE: Presidents Cup Picks, Odds & Betting Preview (Sep 24-27)

Pennsylvania Derby: Recent Winners

• 2025– Baeza (Hector Berrios/John Shirreffs)
• 2024– Seize The Grey (Jamie Torres/D. Wayne Lukas)
• 2023– Saudi Crown (Florent Geroux/Brad Cox)
• 2022– Taiba (Mike Smith/Bob Baffert)
• 2021– Hot Rod Charlie (Flavien Prat/Doug O’Neill)

Pennsylvania Derby: Betting Preview

The G1 Pennsylvania Derby is traditionally an informative race, which has been won by some smart types in recent years, including Preakness Stakes victor Seize The Grey in 2024. An interesting crop of three-year-old runners will take their chance this year.

Further Ado (Flavien Prat/Brad Cox) looks like the one to beat based on the odds. The three-year-old looked very exciting when winning the G1 Blue Grass in April, before regressing when only eleventh in the G1 Kentucky Derby. Has since bounced back to win the G3 Matt Winn, while his fifth in the G1 Haskell was a reliable run.

However, based on that form line alone, Iron Honor (Jose Ortiz/Chad Brown) should be a shorter price. The three-year-old posted a career-best Speed Figure of 124 when third in the G1 Haskell, finishing two lengths clear of Further Ado. Sloppy ground likely suited that day, but he has also posted solid efforts on faster ground, including a notable unlucky second in the G1 Preakness behind Napoleon Solo.

The Puma (Javier Castellano/Gustavo Delgado) has likely achieved more in his career to this point than his market rivals. The three-year-old missed the Derby, but was an encouraging fourth after the layoff in the G1 Haskell. Performed to an inferior rating of 114 when fourth in the G1 Travers last time. Holds a win over Further Ado after landing the G3 Tampa Bay Derby earlier this season, while his second in the G1 Florida Derby also produced a Speed Figure of 122.

Zihnal (1^st G3 West Virginia Derby), Our Moneyman (2^nd G3 Indiana Derby), and Micanopy (1^st Listed Smarty Jones) all bring interesting new form to the table, but each will need to show rapid improvement to compete against proven Graded caliber horses this weekend.

Sassmaster (Tyler Gaffalione/Todd Pletcher) is of interest for a respected stable on this step up in graded after posting 119 and 116 speed figures in maiden special weight and allowance races, respectively. 

Pennsylvania Derby Picks

Further Ado has proven to be slightly too inconsistent to trust at such a short price. Therefore, Iron Honor looks to be more reliable. The Chad Brown runner has form on sloppy and quick ground, and has bounced back well since a no-show in the G2 Wood Memorial. He was an unlucky loser in the G1 Preakness when only narrowly denied by Napoleon Solo, before finishing ahead of the re-opposing Further Ado in the G1 Haskell when posting a career-best speed figure. The Nyquist colt could still be improving as he is more lightly raced compared to much of this field.

Free Pick:

• Iron Honor

Parx Racing Picks for September 19

Race	Pick
R1 – Maiden Special Weight	Olympic Dreamer
R2 – Allowance Optional Claiming	Nogradi
R3 – Maiden Special Weight	Digital Signal
R4 – Starter Optional Claiming	Vanilla
R5 – Starter Optional Claiming	Band Camp
R6 – Allowance Optional Claiming	Bellanova
R7 – Philly Special Stakes	Pronghorn
R8 – Stable Recovery Stakes	Vibe
R9 – Liberty Bell Stakes	Haulin Ice
R10 – Greenwood Cup Stakes	San Siro
R11 – Parx Dirt Mile Stakes	Saudi Crown
R12 – G2 Gallant Bob Stakes	Ryan’s Run
R13 – G1 Cotillion Stakes	Always A Runner
R14 – G1 Pennsylvania Derby	SEE ABOVE
R15 – Allowance Optional Claiming	Higher Sense