California Crown Dreaming for Preakness & Dinner Party Winners

By David Joseph —-

California Crown Dreaming for Preakness & Dinner Party Winners

BALTIMORE – While it is still four months away, the connections of Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Seize the Grey and Dinner Party (G3) winner Balnikhov are excited about the possibility of running for $7.5 million in bonus money come the Sept. 28 California Crown at Santa Anita Park.

1/ST, the innovative brand behind North America’s most prestigious Thoroughbred horse racing, entertainment and wagering events, announced an incentive series the 1/ST Grand 3 earlier this year connecting Preakness 149, California Crown, and Pegasus World Cup.

In addition to their respective purses, MyRacehorse’s Preakness winner Seize the Grey is eligible for a $5 million bonus if he can win the $1 million California Crown (G1) Sept. 28 at Santa Anita and the $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) at Gulfstream Park in January of 2025.

Michael Behrens, founder and CEO of MyRacehorse, said, “I checked in with Coach [trainer D. Wayne Lukas] and we agree that it makes perfect sense to continue along the road of the inaugural 1/ST Grand 3. That $5 million bonus for winning the California Crown this fall at Santa Anita and the Pegasus World Cup in January would be monumental for our ownership group. Seize the Grey is a special horse, and we will continue listening to him as we have been, but 1/ST has made it easy for us to dream big.”

Meanwhile, Dinner Party winner Balnikhov is now eligible for a $2.5 million bonus in addition to the respective purses of the $750,000 California Crown John Henry Turf (G2) at Santa Anita and the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream in January of 2025.

Sol Kumin of Madaket Stable, co-owner of Balnikhov, said; “The incentive to point for the California Crown John Henry Turf in late September at Santa Anita is enormous given the $2.5 million bonus. Obviously, we’ll take one race at a time, but if successful there the end goal would naturally be the Pegasus World Cup Turf in January at Gulfstream Park.

For more information go to: https://www.preakness.com/1stgrand3

About The Stronach Group and 1/ST

The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The Stronach Group’s 1/ST business (pronounced “First”) is North America’s preeminent Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering company and includes the 1/ST RACING & GAMING, 1/ST CONTENT, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY and 1/ST EXPERIENCE businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST HORSE CARE mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group’s continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred racing and the ecosystem that drives it. 1/ST RACING & GAMING drives the best-in-class racing operations and gaming offerings at the company’s premier racetracks and training centers including: Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series, Gulfstream Park West and Palm Meadows Thoroughbred Training Center (Florida); the Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course – home of the legendary Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST CONTENT is the operating group for 1/ST’s media and content companies including: Monarch Content Management, Elite, TSG Global Wagering Solutions (GWS) and XBTV. 1/ST TECHNOLOGY is racing’s largest racing and gaming technology company offering world-class products via its AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST BET, XB SELECT, XB NET, PariMAX and Betmix brands. 1/ST EXPERIENCE blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality through innovative content development, elevated national and local venue management and hospitality, strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and procurement development. As the advocate for critical industry reforms and by making meaningful investments into aftercare programs for retired horses and jockeys, 1/ST HORSE CARE represents The Stronach Group’s commitment to achieving the highest level of horse and rider care and safety standards in Thoroughbred racing on and off the track. The Stronach Group’s TSG Properties is responsible for the development of the company’s live, play and work communities surrounding its racing venues including: The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland). For more information, please email david.joseph@marylandracing.com, visit www.1st.com or follow @1ST_racing on Twitter or @1stracing on Instagram and Facebook.