A stakes schedule worth a record $12.615 million has been released for Gulfstream's 2016-2017 Championship Meet, which will be highlighted by the inaugural $12 million GI Pegasus World Cup Jan. 28 and the $1-million GI Florida Derby Apr. 1. There are 93 stakes on the schedule with 39 of them being graded.
“Obviously, there's great anticipation and excitement building for the upcoming Championship Meet,” said P.J. Campo, Vice President of Racing for The Stronach Group and General Manager of Gulfstream Park. “From opening weekend with the Claiming Crown, to the historic first running of the Pegasus World Cup Invitational, through closing weekend with the 66th running of the Florida Derby, Gulfstream Park will be the epicenter of the racing world. The commitment of The Stronach Group to Thoroughbred racing is evident in our record stakes schedule and the innovative and unique Pegasus World Cup Invitational. Our racing program, supported by horsemen and fans throughout the world, coupled with events like the Eclipse Awards and Fasig-Tipton March Sale, will help us continue to grow Thoroughbred racing. We can't wait for the Championship Meet.”
Gulfstream's extensive 3-year-old program kicks off Jan. 7 with the Mucho Macho Man S., the GIII Hutcheson S., GIII Dania Beach S. and the GIII Old Hat S. The GII Holy Bull S. tops the Feb. 4 program, which includes the GII Swale S., GIII Sweetest Chant S., GII Forward Gal S. and the Kitten's Joy S. The final Florida Derby prep, the GII Fountain of Youth S., is scheduled for Mar. 4 on a program that also includes the GII Davona Dale S., GIII The Very One S., the Palm Beach S., the GIII Herecomesthebride S. In addition to the Pegasus, top older horses will knock heads in the GII Gulfstream Park H. and GI Gulfstream Park Turf, both scheduled for Feb. 11
The 15th edition of the Sunshine Millions will offer five stakes for Florida-bred horses Jan. 21, when Gulfstream Park will host the Eclipse Awards for the fifth consecutive year in the Sport of Kings Theater that evening. The $250,000 Sunshine Millions Classic will be supported by the Distaff, Turf, Fillies and Mares Turf and Sprint, each of which received a $50,000 boost to $150,000. The Claiming Crown will kick off the meet as usual Dec. 3.
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