Some of the best horses in America descended upon Parx on Saturday for their signature afternoon of racing. For Next, Thorpedo Anna and Seize the Grey, the trip proved worth the trouble.

Taking his second consecutive Grade 3 Greenwood Cup wasn’t really the question for Next heading into Saturday’s eighth race. Rather it was how much would the handsome gray win by, and what race would it lead to next?

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The answer to the first question was 10 lengths. It was vintage Next. Loping along while stalking a slow, early pace, he quickly responded to his cue by regular rider Luan Machado. Just like that this race was over. In winning his seventh straight, the son of Not This Time closed out the marathon with an effortless 24-and-change final quarter.

That’s the thing about Next. He can jog along for as long as he needs to and then find a gear that no other horse can hope to find after running that long. His stamina sets him apart from any long-distance dirt horse we have seen in this country for a long time.

As for the second question, we will have to wait to find out. His owner Michael Foster seems gung-ho on the idea of going to the Breeders’ Cup. His trainer Doug Cowans remains a little more cautious but probably realizes it is prime time to pull the trigger on a big test for their star.

If so, will it be the Breeders’ Cup Classic or the Breeders’ Cup Turf? The former will be run on his favorite surface but give him only 10 furlongs and will feature fast fractions. The latter will offer a preferred distance of 12 furlongs but on a surface that we don’t know if he is as good on not to mention numerous international toughies.

We are talking about a 6-year-old gelding here who is intended to race at least one more year after 2024. I have no problem with his connections letting him do what he does best. Personally, I enjoy seeing Next frolic in these spots. The Breeders’ Cup is calling, however, and I look forward to seeing what he can do against the very best.

I understand the Beyer boys will not be impressed by the victory by Thorpedo Anna in Saturday’s Cotillion Stakes (G1), but once again the remarkable daughter of Fast Anna showed me something new.

Call it a bounce if you must, but I think this performance by Thorpedo Anna was full of grit and class.

Rider Brian Hernandez Jr. knew she had a target on her back going in, and he was right. With three of the best in the business in Mike Smith, John Velázquez and Flavien Prat all working to keep the star filly bottled up, their plan to upset the Cotillion almost worked.

Stuck between a rock and a hard place turning for home, Thorpedo Anna muscled her way through a small opening and set sail after Gun Song. The game runner-up ran the race of her life, but a very confident Hernandez never once whipped the favorite on the way to a neck victory.

Going in I felt this was a bit of a trap race for Thorpedo Anna. Giving weight, cutting back in distance, leaving Saratoga for the first time in months, facing some sharp fillies after an extremely tough 1 1/4-mile race against the best sophomore males in the country. All the signs pointed to this being a tricky spot.

Those worries came to fruition Saturday, but great horses can overcome, and that is exactly what Kenny McPeek-trained Thorpedo Anna did in this $1 million edition of the Cotillion.

Having secured earlier season wins in the Fantasy Stakes (G2), Kentucky Oaks (G1), Acorn Stakes (G1) and Coaching Club American Oaks (G1), Thorpedo Anna has long since wrapped up a championship among 3-year-old fillies. The question now is whether she will add the horse-of-the-year title to her trophy case.

A victory in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff against a strong cast of older mares that includes Adare Manor, Idiomatic, Raging Sea and Japan star Awesome Result would give her a fifth Grade 1 victory in 2024, at least two more than any other horse. Her consistent brilliance combined with her credentials would be impossible to deny, in my opinion.

Last but not least we have Seize the Grey, the only one of the three whom I did not pick to win. That isn’t saying much because of the prohibitive odds on the first two, but the son of Arrogate ran to his looks. He also ran himself right back into contention for an Eclipse Award.

Wins in the Pat Day Mile (G2) at Churchill Downs and the Preakness at Pimlico in May sent Seize the Grey up to Saratoga as one of the leaders of the division. Disappointing efforts when seventh in the Belmont Stakes and fourth in the Jim Dandy (G2) left the big gray on the outside looking in.

Legendary trainer D. Wayne Lukas likes to run his horses when healthy, but the large ownership group outvoted him and opted to skip the Travers. In this case the owners were right. Shining like a white knight ready for battle in the days leading up the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G1), it was clear Seize the Grey was feeling good for his first race in eight weeks.

Asked for speed right out of the gate by rider Jaime Torres, the third choice grabbed a very comfortable spot in front early in the nine-furlong race. From there the Preakness winner always was going to be tough to beat.

When the Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner came knocking at the head of the Parx stretch, Seize the Grey responded beautifully and pulled clear to a decisive 3 3/4-length victory. Stronghold, who was wide the whole way, and Dragoon Guard, who was shuffled back in the early stages, both ran well to be in a photo for the place.

Reminiscent of his two big wins in May, Seize the Grey now has credentials that demand attention as we head to Del Mar. With Fierceness and Dornoch, the other two 3-year-old colts with a pair of Grade 1 victories this year, both headed to the Breeders’ Cup Classic, it will be interesting to see if it is the Dirt Mile or the Classic for the My Racehorse hero.

The Breeders Cup ultimately will as usual be telling for all three. But on Saturday, each in their own distinctive way, Next, Thorpedo Anna and Seize the Grey put on a show at Parx.