by Mike Curry

Bear Now set an uncontested pace in the $750,000 Fitz Dixon Cotillion Handicap (G2) on Saturday at Philadelphia Park and had plenty of stamina in reserve to hold off 3-to-10 favorite Octave for a two-length score.

Sent off as the fourth choice in the seven-horse field at 8.40-to-1, the Tiznow filly broke alertly under jockey Jerry Baird and opened a clear lead in the 1 1/16-mile race for three-year-old fillies. Bear Now set honest fractions through an opening quarter in :23.45 and a half-mile in :46.52 with Exchanging Fire in second and two-time Grade 1 winner Octave stalking from third under jockey John Velazquez.

Octave took aim at the leader on the far turn, but Bear Now responded to the challenge and shook free leaving the eighth pole. Octave finished evenly but was unable to gain on Bear Now, who completed the distance in 1:41.21 on a track rated as fast.

Octave was one-length clear of third-place finisher Talkin About Love, who loomed boldly approaching the stretch but flattened out.

Bear Now improved to four wins in seven starts this season for Canada-based trainer Reade Baker and owner Bear Stables. She entered off a 6 1/4-length triumph in the seven-furlong Duchess Stakes on August 11 at Woodbine, where she has made eight of her 12 career starts.

Bear Now began the season with an unplaced finish in the 6 1/2-furlong Old Hat Stakes (G3) on February 10 at Gulfstream Park and followed with a third-place finish in the six-furlong Star Shoot Stakes on April 22 at Woodbine.

Baker stretched Bear Now out to two turns for the first time in the Selene Stakes (Can-G3) on May 20 at Woodbine and she responded with an eight-length romp. She won the Hill ‘n’ Dale Stakes by 9 3/4 lengths on June 16 at Woodbine and subsequently finished fourth in the Delaware Oaks (G2) on July 14 at Delaware Park.

Bear Now improved to six wins in 12 lifetime starts and more than doubled her career earnings to $812,414. Bred in Kentucky by ClassicStar, Bear Now is out of Grade 2-placed multiple stakes winner Controlled, by In Excess (Ire).

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times daily news editor