GULFSTREAM PARK ANNOUNCES NEW SCHEDULE

GULFSTREAM PARK ANNOUNCES S

34 Stakes Including $1.525 Million FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes featuring $400,000 In Reality and $400,000 My Dear Girl divisions

$200,000 in Bonuses Added to Open Stakes for Florida-breds

$250,000 in Bonuses Added to Stakes for Florida Sire Stakes Horses

By Brock Sheridan

Gulfstream Park announced a $3.5 million Spring/Summer stakes schedule highlighted by the $350,000 Princess Rooney Invitational (Grade 2) and $200,000 Smile Sprint Invitational (G3) to be run July 3, and the lucrative $1.525 million FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series. The schedule includes 34 stakes with $700,000 in incentives for Florida-bred and Florida Sire Stakes-eligible horses courtesy of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association. The Princess Rooney, a ‘Win & In’ for Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1), and Smile, which make-up the Summit of Speed, were moved to September last year after being run in July since its inception 20 years ago at Calder Race Course. The Princess Rooney was cancelled last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Both races will be invitationals this year for the first time. “This year we focused on bringing back the popular Summit of Speed on July 4weekend,” Gulfstream Park vice president of racing Mike Lakow said. “The Princess Rooney fits perfectly on the national calendar within the female sprint category. We’ve increased the purse to $350,000 and have made the race an invitational along with The Smile. The

Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint on Sunday,

July 4 completes the Independence

Day weekend.” The Florida Sire Stakes will begin on July 31 and culminate Sept. 25 with the $400,000 In Reality, $400,000 My Dear Girl and the $125,000 Wildcat

SPRING/SUMMER STAKES SCHEDULE

Heir for older horses. Florida-bredstakes races will include the $75,000 Big Drama May 1, $75,000 Musical Romance on May 29 and $75,000 Soldier’s Dancer on May 31, the $75,000 Ginger Punch June 12, and the $75,000 Benny the Bull August 14. The FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series kicks off with the $100,000 Dr. Fager for eligible 2-year-old colts and gelding and the $100,000 Desert Vixen for eligible 2-year-old fillies, both a six furlongs. The series graduates to seven furlongs and $200,000 purses in each division on Aug. 28 with the Affirmed for eligible 2-year-old colts and gelding and the Susan’s Girl for eligible 2-year-old fillies. The stakes schedule begins Saturday, May 1 with the $75,000 Honey Ryder for fillies at a mile-and-one-sixteenth on the turf and the Big Drama for Florida-bred 3year-olds and older at six furlongs. “We appreciate the support from Lonny Powell and the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association offering an additional $500,000 to enhance the Spring/Summer stakes schedule with bonuses for Florida Bred and Florida Stallion Sired winners,” Lakow added. Powell, who serves as the CEO for the FTBOA, said he is enthusiastic about the stakes schedule as a showcase for Florida-breds, the lucrative Florida Sire Stakes program and spring summer thoroughbred racing in the Sunshine State. “The FTBOA is excited about stepping up our participation for this year’s Gulfstream Summer Meet in terms of funding and sponsorships for Florida-breds competing in open and restricted stakes races,” Powell said. “This re-energized spirit of cooperation with our horsemen and track partners as we each recognize the undeniable connection between breeding and racing and the importance of everyone to each other and our entire Florida thoroughbred industry’s success. “Our member breeders and owners continue to recognize the ongoing importance to our industry of maintaining a meaningful year round racing circuit in Florida with the Gulfstream Summer Meet obviously an important part of our Florida racing schedule. One of the biggest assets relied upon to make this all happen is our Floridabreds,” Powell added. “As our industry and world begin the transition back to a more normal life as we happily watch the pandemic slowing down in the stretch and fading, FTBOA has again stepped up to strongly augment well beyond any requirements or obligations for this year by sponsoring for this specific year’s meet more than $825,000 in total additional bonuses, incentives and purses above and beyond our six 2-year-old Gulfstream Park Summer main events-the $1.4 million Florida Sire Stakes this year. “We are very proud to support Gulfstream and the horsemen while continuing to put the spotlight on our valued and highly competitive Florida-breds and the breeders, farms and connections behind them,” Powell continued. “As has been the case for a number of years now, if you plan to race for the big prize money this summer at Gulfstream Park, you really need to have a compliment of Floridabreds and Florida-breds by Florida sires in your barn.” ■