PARX racetrack is centre stage in the US this weekend with two three-year-old contests that may have a say in the end of year awards.

The mid-week withdrawal of the disqualified Kentucky Derby winner Maximum Security with a trapped colon has robbed the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (10.45 Sky Sports) of much of its interest as it also sees the reappearance of the Preakness winner War Of Will and the horse who went off favourite in Kentucky, and for the Preakness, the Bob Baffert-trained Improbable.

Improbable is favourite again. Second-place finishes in the Rebel and Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn after a Grade 1 win at two, gave him favouritism in Churchill Downs but he only finished fourth behind promoted winner Country House.

After a sixth in the Preakness, he got off the mark for the season in the Listed Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar last time, when racing more prominently in blinkers. Baffert said this week: “This is his last chance against three-year-olds. He needs to be ridden aggressively and will have to get rolling at the start from post two.”

War Of Will was well fancied for the Derby but met some interference from Maximum Security on the bend. His Preakness win was impressive but he looked lack lustre in the Belmont and even more so in the Jim Dandy behind Tax. Trainer Mark Casse had no explanation.

“In the Jim Dandy, I don’t have a big excuse for what happened. The only thing was that he was put in a different situation than he ever was before by being on the lead. We gave him some time and he responded well. He’s ready to go and we’ll find out where he stands with the best three-year-olds.”

Second favourite Mr Money is the latecomer to the classic three-year-old scene. Fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, early setbacks led to unplaced efforts in two stakes races and he missed the Derby qualifying limit.

Instead he ran in the Pat Day Mile on Kentucky Derby Day and rolled to a five-and-a-quarter-length win. That was followed by three Grade 3 wins by a combined 15 lengths.

“This is what we have been looking forward to,” said trainer Bret Calhoun. “We’ve made quite a bit of money with him and we’ve been pointing to this race for a while and looking forward to taking on the big horses.”

The field of six also includes Spun To Run, who won here in the Smarty Jones Stakes two weeks ago and was third behind Maximum Security in the Haskell.

SELECTION: MR MONEY

Next Best: War Of Will

Cotillion Stakes

The Cotillion Stakes for three-year-old fillies also has an all-star line-up headed by the unbeaten Guarana (Chad Brown), winner on her debut at Keeneland in April by over 14 lengths, and then a six-length winner of Belmont Park’s Acorn (Grade 1) in June. She was less impressive in Saratoga’s Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks in July, winning by a length.

Serengeti Empress, who won the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks from the front is also in the line-up. She takes another shot at Guarana after she set the pace and was a clear second in the Acorn. She was also a fine second in Saratoga’s Grade 1 Test Stakes over seven furlongs to Covfefe in August.

Jaywalk, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, and fellow top two-year-old from last year Bellafina, add up to the cast of the top three-year-old fillies.

Jaywalk has been a bit disappointing and was beaten in the Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks to Hirologist, who also runs here.

Bellafina hasn’t brought her early season Santa Anita form, where she won the Oaks easily, to the east coast against the better fillies and was third in the Test but the longer distance may suit better here.

Sophie Doyle rides Indiana Oaks winner Street Band, third in the Alabama behind Chad Brown’s other top three-year-old filly Dunbar Road last time.

SELECTION: SERENGETI EMPRESS

Next Best: Guarana