The last big opportunity for the three-year-old classic crop to chase a seven-figure purse against their own age group happens Saturday, September 20 in the Grade 1, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby at Parx. The 1 ⅛-mile dirt race drew a field of 10 headlined by Baeza and Gosger, two Triple-Crown placegetters who finally get to step out from behind the shadows of Sovereignty and Journalism.
Though the Pennsylvania Derby has existed since 1979, the race has had an increasing profile through the 2010s and 2020s, gaining Grade 1 status for its 2017 running. Its marquee winners include Preakness winners Summer Squall (1990) and Seize the Grey (2024), Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Bayern (2014), Met Mile winner Frosted (2015), and major sire Harlan’s Holiday (2002).
Who has the best chance to join this illustrious list on Saturday? Keep reading to find out, and to see the best horse racing betting sites for playing the Pennsylvania Derby online in 2025.
Pennsylvania Derby Field
This is the official field for the 2025 Pennsylvania Derby including post positions, trainers, jockeys, and morning lines:
- So Sandy (Cherie DeVaux/Kendrick Carmouche) - 15/1
- Altobelli (James Nicholson, Jr./Angel Castillo) - 50/1
- Magnitude (Steve Asmussen/Ben Curtis) - 6/1
- David of Athens (Brendan Walsh/Tyler Gaffalione) - 12/1
- Happily Delusional (Louis Linder, Jr./Paco Lopez) - 30/1
- Goal Oriented (Bob Baffert/Irad Ortiz, Jr.) - 5/2
- Big Truzz (Brian Lynch/Javier Castellano) - 10/1
- Baeza (John Shirreffs/Hector Berrios) - 2/1
- Gosger (Brendan Walsh/Luis Saez) - 4/1
- Mo Plex (Jeremiah Englehart/Joseph Ramos) - 12/1
Though the morning line can be an excellent way to get an idea of which horses are expected to take money or not, they are no guarantee of a price on race day. On track, odds will shift all the way until the horses jump from the gate. However, there is a better way.
You can maximize your profits by betting the Pennsylvania Derby at an online sportsbook. Online sportsbooks offer fixed odds wagering on major horse races, meaning you can lock in the best price on your pick just by placing a bet! Then, you can watch the race with complete confidence in what you’ll get when your horse wins.
These are the Pennsylvania Derby odds for horses at the top of the market:
 |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baeza | +200 | +200 | +200 |
| Goal Oriented | +250 | +250 | +250 |
| Gosger | +400 | +400 | +400 |
| Magnitude | +600 | +600 | +600 |
| Big Truzz | +1000 | +1000 | +1000 |
Pennsylvania Derby Online Betting
Signing up for an online sportsbook is easy! It may seem daunting at first because there are so many options, but we are here to help. Our online betting experts are here to make your choice as easy as possible. Our expert reviews give you everything you need to know to choose the most lucrative place for you to bet horse racing and sports online.
All of our recommended sites have the basics: a great user interface, trusted deposits and withdrawals, and market-leading odds. Every site also offers great bonuses and incentives like referral bonuses, sign-up and deposit incentives, and even horse racing rebates that pay you in cash or free bets for every bet you make!
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Pennsylvania Derby Handicapping
Now that you know where to bet, it’s time to get handicapping. Let’s meet the field and pick the winner of the 2025 Pennsylvania Derby!
Pennsylvania Derby Best Bet
The best bet in the Pennsylvania Derby is Gosger. Freshened up since a good second in the Haskell (G1) two months ago, he proved his effort in the Preakness was no fluke, once again finishing half a length second to one of the divisional leaders, Journalism. And, he did that at 1 ⅛ miles, the same distance as the Pennsylvania Derby.
His running style suits the race beautifully – there is a lot of early gas between Magnitude, Mo Plex, Altobelli, and perhaps even David of Athens, So Sandy, and Goal Oriented, but Parx is also the kind of track where a horse shouldn’t be left with too much to do late. Gosger should be within a few lengths of the lead without getting embroiled and burned out, and his draw could help him get a clean trip.
Pennsylvania Derby Favorites
Baeza, third behind Sovereignty in the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont, will be the favorite in the Pennsylvania Derby. There is good reason for that – though he still seeks a graded win, he has kept showing up against the best of his class. The price will be short, but he can run a good race from various places off the pace, and over and over again he runs fast enough races to be a major threat in this field.
Goal Oriented, who finished just behind Gosger in the Haskell, will probably be bet more heavily because he is trained by Bob Baffert. His form fits, and he still has some upside after only four career starts. But, at a short price, he is more likely than Gosger or Baeza to be affected by such a heavily contested pace – so from a value perspective, he makes sense to tread more lightly with than the other major contenders.
Pennsylvania Derby Exotics Horses
The two longer shots to include in exotics are David of Athens and So Sandy.
David of Athens tries graded-stakes company for the first time. Though he went wire-to-wire in an allowance last out, he rallied from midfield on debut, showing a layer of versatility that could keep him out of the pace battle. It is also notable that Tyler Gaffalione sticks with him and not last-out stakes winner Big Truzz.
So Sandy has the rail, a challenging draw with so much speed drawn outside of him. However, he has shown improved form at 1 ⅛ miles in his last two starts, and the tactical speed he showed in his last two starts suggests that, if his new rider Kendrick Carmouche can tap into it, he may be able to get a good enough trip to round out exotics if he takes one more step forward.
Free Pennsylvania Derby Picks
These are your free expert picks for the 2025 Pennsylvania Derby:
- $20 to win - #9 Gosger
- $1 exacta box - #9 Gosger with #4 David of Athens, #8 Baeza
- $0.50 trifecta key - #9 Gosger with #4 David of Athens, #6 Goal Oriented, #8 Baeza
- $0.20 superfecta key - #9 Gosger with #1 So Sandy, #4 David of Athens, #6 Goal Oriented, #8 Baeza
