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Gulfstream boosts stakes, overnight purses Gulfstream Park has announced its richest stakes schedule ever for three-year-olds, highlighted by the $1 million Florida Derby (G1). The Florida Derby, which has produced 39 horses who have won 54 Triple Crown races, including 21 editions of the Kentucky Derby (G1), will be run April 3 and is one of several races receiving significant purse increases for Gulfstream's 69th season of championship racing, which runs from January 5 to April 24, 2011. Two of Gulfstream's major preps for the Florida Derby -- the January 29 Holy Bull S. (G3) and February 26 Fountain of Youth S. (G2) -- will now each be worth $400,000. The total purse increase for the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby and Fountain of Youth and one-mile Holy Bull is $650,000. All three races will also be part of the innovative Preakness 5.5, which could award an additional $5.5 million in bonus money to the winners of the 2011 Preakness S. (G1). "This increase in Gulfstream's stakes purses as well as a nearly 15 percent increase of our overnight purses is another sign of our commitment to having the best racing in the country," Gulfstream's General Manager Steve Calabro said. "Gulfstream continues to be the winter home of horses that compete in the Triple Crown, Breeders' Cup and major races throughout the year." Gulfstream has also increased the purses of seven other stakes races for the 2011 season, including those of its major three-year-old filly races. The seven-furlong Forward Gal S. (G2) will now be worth $200,000, the one-mile Davona Dale S. (G2) $250,000, and the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), formerly the Bonnie Miss will have a purse of $300,000. The overall purse increase of the three races is $250,000. The Florida Derby and Gulfstream Park Oaks will highlight an exciting weekend of racing christened Florida Derby Festival Weekend. Both the Oaks and $150,000 Rampart H. (G3) will be run on April 2 while the Derby will be one of four stakes races run on April 3 along with the $150,000 Swale S. (G2), $100,000 Appleton H. (G3) and $100,000 Skip Away H. (G3). Gulfstream's 2011 program also includes purse hikes to the $300,000 Gulfstream Park Turf H. (G1) for older horses, and the $150,000 Suwannee River S. (G3)and $150,000 Hurricane Bertie S. (G3) for fillies and mares. The $150,000 Palm Beach S. (G3), for 3-year-olds run at 1 1/8 miles on the turf, will be run March 12. Last year's race winner, Paddy O'Prado (El Prado [Ire]), went on to finish third in the Kentucky Derby and win three consecutive graded stakes, including the $400,000 Secretariat S. (G1). The $150,000 Hutcheson S. (G3) for three-year-olds at seven furlongs will be run February 26 and the $100,000 Spectacular Bid S. for three-year-olds going six furlongs will be contested January 8. Last year's Spectacular Bid winner, A Little Warm (Stormin Fever), went on to win the $500,000 Jim Dandy S. (G2). The 53rd running of the $500,000 Donn H. (G1) will be run February 5. The 1 1/8-mile event has been won by champions Cigar, Invasor (Arg), Saint Liam, Forego and Skip Away. The 2010 winner, Quality Road (Elusive Quality), set a track and stakes record in the event. Gulfstream and its nearby training center, Palm Meadows, continue to be the place to condition champions. Palm Meadows has been the training grounds for five of the last eight Kentucky Derby winners. The first three finishers in this year's Kentucky Derby and Travers S. (G1) all wintered and trained at Gulfstream or Palm Meadows. The ninth annual Sunshine Millions will be held January 22. Additional information on the day will be forthcoming.
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