The 2019 stakes schedule at Parx consists of 28 races worth more than $5.62 million, an increase of two stakes and $275,000 from a year ago. David Osojnak, who was named director of racing at Parx in October, has placed an emphasis on building up the Bensalem, Pa., track's biggest days. Nineteen of the 28 stakes will be run on three programs. The highlight of the season comes Sept. 21 when the Pennsylvania Derby and Cotillion, both Grade 1 races worth $1 million, will top a seven-stakes card. That program has traditionally included five stakes. For the first time, the Cotillion will be part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series as a Win and You're In for the BC Distaff. "Hopefully, the Cotillion being part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series will help us build a better field," Osojnak said. "We don't have all the Grade 1's and Grade 2's like New York or California, so we're trying to maximize the few big races we do have." The Pa. Derby/Cotillion undercard will consist of the $300,000 Gallant Bob, which has been upgraded to a Grade 2; the $150,000 Turf Amazon, which has been moved on the calendar and had its purse boosted $50,000; The $150,000 Parx Dirt Mile, which replaces the Pa. Derby Champion Stakes; and two Pennsylvania-bred races, the Alphabet Soup and Plum Pretty. "I would like to build on the Parx Dirt Mile in coming years and try to make it into a prep race for the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile," Osojnak said. There also will be seven stakes on Smarty Jones Day, which is Monday of Labor Day weekend, and five statebred stakes on Aug. 3. The Grade 3, $300,000 Smarty Jones is a 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds. A new stakes for 3-year-old fillies, the $150,000 Cathryn Sophia, will also be run that day. The Smarty Jones and the mile and 70-yard Cathryn Sophia will serve as respective Win and You're In races for the Pennsylvania Derby and Cotillion, which will be held 19 days later. The Smarty Jones and Cathryn Sophia winners will have their nomination, entry, and starting fees waived for their respective races. The Smarty Jones Day card will also include the Grade 3, $300,000 Turf Monster and four $100,000 Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Championship races - the President's Cup, Roamin Rachel, and two new stakes, the Bensalem and Neshaminy. In other changes, the Grade 3, $200,000 Greenwood Cup has been moved from Smarty Jones Day to Oct. 5, and the Pa.-bred Lyman on April 28 is now a handicap. The Jose Flores Memorial Stakes, which was run last August in honor of the rider who died at Parx in a March 2018 spill, is not being brought back. The Turning for Home Stakes has had its purse trimmed from $100,000 to $75,000. Horse owner Kaleem Shah is donating a future breeding to his stallion Dortmund to the winners of all filly and mare stakes at Parx. Dortmund is standing in 2019 for a $7,500 fee at Bonita Farm in Darlington, Md. ** An earlier version of this article said starting bonuses for owners and trainers would be tied to the Cotillion. Those bonuses have not been implemented by Parx management.