A major race will be inaugurated, and a significant purse increase for a tradition-rich Triple Crown prep will be introduced in Gulfstream Park’s 2021-2022 championship meet stakes schedule released Friday afternoon.
A total of 76 stakes (37 graded) worth US$14.26 million, more than $1 million more than the previous year, will be run during the prestigious winter meet that will get underway December 3 and run through April 3.
The US$500,000 Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf (G3) will debut on the January 29 program that will be co-headlined by the US$3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1), a 1 1/8-mile stakes for 4-year-olds and up, and the US$1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1), a 1 1/8-mile turf race for 4-year-olds and up on turf. The 1 1/16-mile turf event for older fillies and mares, which will replace the Marshua’s River (G3) on the new schedule, will be one of seven graded stakes worth $5.2 million on a World Class Thoroughbred racing program that will be supported by high-end entertainment, cutting-edge fashion, and fine dining.
Purses for all 3-year-old stakes on Gulfstream Park’s Road to the Triple Crown have been increased, most notably the 70th running of the Florida Derby (G1) on April 2. The historic 1 1/8-mile stakes, which has produced the winners of 60 Triple Crown races, will be renewed for a purse of US$1 million, a US$250,000 increase over last season. The Florida Derby will be supported by six graded stakes, including the $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), a 1 1/16-mile stakes for 3-year-old fillies, and the US$200,000 Kitten’s Joy Pan American (G2), a 1 1/2-mile turf event for older horses. Total purses for 10 stakes races on Florida Derby Day will be US$2.2 million.
The Fountain of Youth (G2) will be renewed for US$400,000, up from last season’s purse of US$350,000, on a March 5 program that will feature nine graded-stakes. The 1 1/16-mile key prep for the Florida Derby, will be supported by three other Grade 2 stakes, including the US$200,000 Davona Dale, a mile stakes for 3-year-old fillies; the US$200,000 Gulfstream Park Mile (G2), a mile stakes for 4-year-olds and up; and the US$200,000 Mac Diarmida, a 1 3/8-mile turf event for older horses.
The Mucho Macho Man, a mile race for 3-year-olds, will kick off Gulfstream’s Road to the Triple Crown Jan. 1 with a US$50,000 purse increase to US$150,000. The Holy Bull (G3), a 1 1/16-mile stakes for Florida Derby and Triple Crown hopefuls, will be renewed Feb. 5 with a US$400,000 purse, a $50,000 increase over last season.
