SUMMER STAKES SUMMER STAKES

Opening Day, Thursday, July 13, kicks off the season with the Grade 3, $175,000 Schuylerville for 2-year-old fillies. The following day features the $135,000 Wilton for sophomore fillies to be contested out of the Wilson Chute and the $150,000 Coronation Cup, a turf sprint for sophomore fillies. Opening Weekend is highlighted by the first Grade 1 of the Saratoga season in the $500,000 Diana for turf fillies and mares on July 15. That day’s card will include the Grade 3, $175,000 Sanford for juveniles on dirt; and the Grade 3, $175,000 Kelso, formerly the Forbidden Apple, at one mile on turf for older horses. (The Grade 2 Kelso, which is traditionally run at one-mile on dirt during the Belmont Park fall meet, will be renamed and run on a date to be determined.)

The Grade 3, $175,000 Quick Call, presented by Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, a sophomore turf sprint, closes out Opening Weekend on Sunday, July 16.

The following Saturday, July 22, will see the Grade 1, $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks for sophomore fillies, headlining a card that also offers the Grade 3, $200,000 Caress, a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint for older fillies and mares. Week 3, which offers the Grade 2, $200,000 Amsterdam for 3-year-olds at 6 1/2 furlongs on Friday, July 28 is highlighted by the traditional prep for the Travers: the Grade 2, $500,000 Jim Dandy on Saturday, July 29. It will be joined by the Grade 1, $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap, a six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds+. Closing out Jim Dandy weekend on July 30 is the Grade 2, $250,000 Bowling Green at 1 3/8 miles on the turf.

The $135,000 Fasig-Tipton De La Rose for older filly and mare turf milers is slated for Wednesday, August 2, as part of Whitney Week leading into the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale and the Fasig-Tipton New York-bred Yearlings Sale.

The Grade 2, $250,000 Glens Falls for older turf is set for Thursday, August 3, before Whitney Weekend launches Friday, August 4, with the Grade 2 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame for sophomore turf milers, which will see its purse increase to $500,000; and the Grade 3, $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks Invitational at 1 3/16-miles on turf for sophomore fillies.

Whitney Day on Saturday, August 5, provides a trio of Grade 1 events, led by the Whitney at 1 1/8 miles for older horses offering an automatic berth to the Breeders' Cup Classic on November 4 at Santa Anita. The following Grade 1s will be the sevenfurlong $500,000 Test for sophomore fillies and the $600,000 Saratoga

Derby Invitational, at 1 3/16-miles on turf for sophomores. Whitney Day will also include the Grade 3, $300,000 Troy for older turf sprinters, and the restricted $135,000 Lure at 1 1/16-miles on turf for older horses. Whitney weekend concludes on Sunday, August 6, with the Grade 3, $200,000 Adirondack, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for juvenile fillies.

The Travers Festival, which offers nine stakes including six Grade 1s from Wednesday, August 23 through Saturday, August 26, is headlined by the 154th edition of the 1 1/4-mile Travers on Saturday, August 26.

The lucrative Travers Day card features five Grade 1 stakes and an automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup to the winner of the Grade 1, $750,000 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer (Turf) and Grade 1, $500,000 Ballerina Handicap (Filly and Mare Sprint.)

In addition to the Travers, the stacked card will also include the Grade 1, $500,000 Forego, a seven-furlong sprint for 4-year-olds+, and the Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial for 3-year-olds going seven furlongs.

The Travers Festival kicks off with the $135,000 John’s Call for older turf horses and continues on Thursday, August 24, with the Grade 2, $400,000 Ballston Spa at 1 1/16-miles for turf fillies and mares. The August 25 card will offer the Grade 1, $500,000 Personal Ensign at nine-furlongs for older fillies and mares along with the $150,000 Smart N Fancy for older filly and mare turf sprinters.

New York-breds will take center stage on Sunday, August 27, for New York Showcase Day, featuring six stakes for state-breds worth a combined $1.25 million.

The card is headlined by the $250,000 Albany, a ninefurlong for sophomores. Also featured are five $200,000 stakes including the Fleet Indian for sophomore fillies; the West Point Handicap presented by Trustco Bank for 3-year-olds+; and the Yaddo Handicap for fillies and mares 3-years-old+. A pair of sprints for juveniles previously offered at 6 1/2-furlongs will now both be contested at six furlongs in the Funny Cide presented by Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital for 2-year-olds; and the Seeking the Ante for juvenile fillies.

New York-breds will also be highlighted at the Spa with four handicaps each with a purse of $125,000, including the Johnstone Mile on August 9 for fillies and mares 3-yearsold+; the John Morrissey on August 10 at six furlongs for 3-year-olds+; the Evan Shipman Handicap on August 11 at one-mile for 3-year-olds+; and the six-furlong Union Avenue on August 11 for fillies and mares 3-years-old+.

Among the other Grade 1 races at the Spa will be the $150,000 A.P. Smithwick Memorial on July 19, and the $150,000 Jonathan Sheppard on August 16 for steeplechasers; the $600,000 Alabama on Saturday, August 19; and the $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap, a Breeders' Cup qualifier for the Mile, on Saturday, August 12, to be held on the same card as the Grade 2, $200,000 Saratoga Special.

Closing Weekend of the Saratoga meet begins Saturday, September 2, led by the Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup (Classic) at 10 furlongs for 3-year-olds+. The card also includes the Grade 2, $500,000 Flower Bowl, an 11-furlong turf test for older fillies and mares; the Grade 2, $250,000 Prioress for sophomore filly sprinters; and the $150,000 Harvey Pack for older turf sprinters.

On Sunday, September 3, juvenile fillies will sprint seven furlongs in the Grade 1, $300,000 Spinaway as part of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Dozen series.

Closing Day on Monday, September 4, will feature the $150,000 Bernard Baruch along with the Grade 1, $300,000 Hopeful for 2-year-olds going seven furlongs to conclude the 2023 Saratoga meet.