The upcoming 2016 spring/summer meet will be highlighted by a 41-race stakes schedule worth a record $5.575 million in purses, Gulfstream Park announced Wednesday.
The schedule, which starts with the GIII Miami Mile Apr. 30, will be highlighted by the $1.1 million Summit of Speed card and three legs of the $2.9 million Florida Sire Stakes Series. The 2015 spring/summer meet offered 29 stakes worth $4.75 million in purses.
“This is another step in our efforts to reinvigorate and rebuild the summer racing schedule in Florida,” said P.J. Campo, Gulfstream's General Manager and Vice President of Racing for The Stronach Group. “We continue to see more horsemen applying for year-round stalls and more interest in our stakes schedule. We are committed to building our summer schedule. We believe it will make for a stronger overall program in Florida and will showcase large fields and quality racing.”
The Summit of Speed will be held July 2 and will offer three graded-stakes races, including the $250,000 GII Princess Rooney S., the $250,000 GII Smile Sprint S. and the $150,000 GIII Carry Back S.
The $2.9 million Florida Sires Stakes series is scheduled for Aug. 6, Sept. 3 and Oct. 1. The series, which is restricted to horses sired by accredited stallions standing in Florida, will get under way with the $200,000 Dr. Fager S. and the $200,000 Desert Vixen S. for 2 year olds and the $150,000 Unbridled S. and the $150,000 Three Ring S. for 3 year olds. The second leg will include the $300,000 Affirmed S. and the $300,000 Susan's Girl S. for 2 year olds, as well as the $150,000 Prized S. and $150,000 Jewel Princess S. for sophomores. The lucrative series is set to wrap up with the $500,000 In Reality S. and the $500,000 My Dear Girl S. for juveniles and $150,000 Foolish Pleasure S. and $150,000 Meadow Star S. for 3 year olds.
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