Several of the top 3-year-old fillies in America are set to meet at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 16 in the $600,000 Alabama Stakes (G1) in a race that will likely play a large role in helping to decide the division's champion at the end of the year. However, there is one key player in that discussion who will be missing.
Scottish Lassie, the dominant 15 1/2-length winner of the July 19 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) at Saratoga, will bypass the race in favor of the $1 million Cotillion Stakes (G1) at Parx Racing Sept. 20. The decision was confirmed Aug. 10 by trainer and co-owner Jorge Abreu.
"She ran such a hard race that day," Abreu said. "Even though she won by 15, I think it took a little bit out of her. I don't see her doing the same thing (in training) she was doing for the Coaching Club."
However, the daughter of McKinzie is rounding back into form as she turned in her first recorded workout since the CCA Oaks Sunday, going a "nice and smooth" four furlongs over the Oklahoma Training Track in :50.99 with jockey Joel Rosario aboard.
"It was pretty smooth and Rosario was very pleased with her," Abreu said. "He didn't have to do anything but just sit there, and she went :50 4/5. ... With this breeze, we probably put her back where I want her to be."
Raced by the partnership of Sportsmen Stable, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Photos Finish, Corms Racing Stable, and Abreu, several of the filly's co-owners were in attendance for the breeze.
Steve Weston of Parkland Thoroughbreds noted that the Cotillion works better from a scheduling standpoint when looking ahead to a possible start in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at Del Mar Nov. 1.
"(Abreu) feels that it sets up—if we do well (in the Cotillion)—about possibly going to the Breeders' Cup," Weston said. "It'll give her enough time, where the Alabama would give her a lot of time. He likes the schedule."
The Cotillion falls six weeks before the Breeders' Cup, and the Alabama would place her 11 weeks out. Scottish Lassie shipped to Del Mar for last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) and finished fourth behind Immersive, who she flipped the tables on in the Alabama.
This would not be the first time that Parkland Thoroughbreds raced a CCA Oaks winner in the Cotillion. Weston was part of the ownership group of Maracuja, who won the 2021 edition of the CCA Oaks before finishing fourth in the Cotillion.
As far as where Scottish Lassie fits in the discussion of best 3-year-old filly, Abreu said he considers her to be at least in the top 3 given she has finished ahead of horses like Good Cheer, La Cara, and Immersive at some point in her career.
"We've beat almost everybody," he said.
