Gulfstream’s Spring-Summer Schedule to Offer $3.85 Million in Purses

By David Joseph —-

Schedule Features 29 Stakes, Four Graded, and 10 for Florida-breds and Florida-Preferred

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Gulfstream Park announced today a $3.850 million spring and summer stakes schedule highlighted by the $1.2 million Florida Sire Stakes and $1 million Summit of Speed featuring Breeders’ Cup ‘Win & You’re In’ races the Princess Rooney (G2) and Smile Sprint (G3).

Gulfstream’s summer schedule will have 29 stakes beginning April 29 with the Miami Mile (G3), one of four graded stakes on the schedule, and ending Sept. 30 with the finals of the $1.4 million Florida Sire Stakes. Six of the 29 stakes will be restricted to Florida-breds and four others Florida-breds preferred.

“We continue working on our spring and summer stakes schedule, and we have made some adjustments this year that we believe will benefit all horsemen as well as bettors with quality racing and full fields,” said P.J. Campo, Vice President of Racing for The Stronach Group and General Manager of Gulfstream Park. “We believe our 2-year-old program, which produced Gunnevera and Three Rules last year, will be extremely strong this summer and we look forward to big weekends like July 4 with the Breeders’ Cup ‘Win & You’re In’ races and our huge July 4th Party.

“We’re getting great support and interest about racing in Florida from horsemen throughout North America. This schedule is another step in building a strong, year-round program in Florida,” he added.
Bill White, President of the Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, said, “We’re really excited about the schedule. Ten of the races scheduled are Florida-bred and Florida-bred preferred, and that’s something Gulfstream and the horsemen put together. We realize a large percentage of the horses here are Florida-breds and many are racing here now and many of the horsemen are Florida breeders and owners. I think recognizing that with our program is thinking out of the box.”

The stakes schedule kicks off April 29 with the $100,000 Miami Mile and $100,000 Powder Break. Four stakes restricted to Florida-breds will be contested through the last two weeks of May and first two weeks of June before the $1 million Summit of Speed is contested Saturday, July 1.

The Summit of Speed will include the Breeders’ Cup ‘Win & You’re In’ $250,000 Princess Rooney (G2) for fillies and mares at seven furlongs and the $250,000 Smile Sprint (G3) at six furlongs. The Summit of Speed will also include the $150,000 Carry Back (G3) at seven furlongs, the $75,000 Bob Umphrey at five furlongs, and the $100,000 Kiss a Native and Brave Raj with Florida-breds preferred.

The Florida Sire Stakes begins Aug. 5 with the $100,000 Dr. Fager and $100,000 Desert Vixen at six furlongs and continues Sept. 2 with the Affirmed and Susan’s Girl at seven furlongs. The 1 1/16 mile finals – the $400,000 In Reality and $400,000 My Dear Girl – will be run Sept. 30 along with four $75,000 stakes races.

The full schedule can be seen here: http://www.gulfstreampark.com/racing/schedules/stakes-schedule

Gulfstream Park is a Stronach Group company, North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida, and is one of North America’s top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation. The Stronach Group is one of the world’s largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; XpressBet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets.