Expert Pick of the Week: 2025 Pennsylvania Derby

Sep 18, 2025 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

Gosger wins the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland. (Photo by Coady Media)

An excellent field consisting of 10 sophomores will face off in Saturday’s lucrative, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G1) at Parx. The 1 1/8-mile event on the dirt attracted some of the top horses in the three-year-old division and promises to be a thrilling event on the biggest day of racing on the calendar at the track.

Trainer Brendan Walsh has two horses entered for the feature on a huge day of racing, led by Gosger, who has finished first or second in all of his five career tries to date. A smart winner on the Gulfstream Park dirt in February, the gray colt followed up his first victory with another one in the Lexington S. (G3) at Keeneland in his third lifetime run.

Gosger showed up in the Preakness S. (G1) at Pimlico in start number four, and the son of top sire Nyquist opened up a big lead in the stretch only to be run down by the fantastic Journalism in the final stages of the Triple Crown contest. In his most recent race, Gosger fell a half-length shy of Journalism for a second time when he was the runner-up in the Haskell S. (G1) at Monmouth Park.

Trainer @brenpwalsh has two entries in Saturday's G1 Pennsylvania Derby! 🏆

Here is Gosger and David of Athens working together on Sept. 12th, going 5 furlongs in 59.60 seconds. ⏱️ pic.twitter.com/zLbm4eFxK9

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) September 17, 2025

The three-year-old has recorded six morning workouts to prepare for the Pennsylvania Derby, and in this particular race, I expect him to settle in third or fourth early before putting in his winning run late. Luis Saez, who has ridden Gosger in his last two races, will once again be in the saddle.

Goal Oriented will go out for trainer Bob Baffert, who has won this race on a record four occasions. The dark bay colt raced in the Haskell last time out and finished a very good third while just a neck behind Gosger at the finish. He is fast and can run long, and the lightly raced contender sure has room for improvement while making just his fifth career run in this event. He will be close to the front for the duration of the race with top jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. riding.

Expert Pick

• An exacta with #9 Gosger on top of #6 Goal Oriented in the 2025 Pennsylvania Derby is the Best Bet of the Week.
• $10 win #9 Gosger
• $10 exacta 9 with 6

Bonus Play for the Cotillion S. (G1) (Race 13)

• $5 Exacta 7 with 1,9