Aqueduct releases spring stakes schedule

The Grade 1, $1 million

Twinspires.com Wood Memorial will be supported by 13 other stakes worth an

additional $2.3 million when racing moves to the main track on April 1 for

Aqueduct's 19-day Spring Showcase meet.

New York's traditional prep for the Kentucky Derby, the 1 1/8-mile Wood

Memorial is one of five stakes on April 4, including its Grade 1 counterpart,

the $400,000 Carter Handicap at seven furlongs. Joining the first two Grade 1

events on the New York Racing Association calendar that day will be the Grade 2,

$300,000 Gazelle for three-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles, the Grade 3,

$300,000 Bay Shore for three-year-olds going seven furlongs, and the season's

first turf stakes, the inaugural $100,000 Danger's Hour for four-year-olds and

up at a mile.

Other new additions to the Big A's boutique meet include the $100,000,

one-mile Plenty of Grace for turf fillies and mares on April 11; the $100,000, 1

1/16-mile Woodhaven for three-year-olds on the grass on April 18 and its sister

race, the $100,000 Memories of Silver for three-year-old turf fillies on April

19; and the $100,000, 6 1/2-furlong Belle Harbor for three-year-old fillies on

closing day, April 26.

The meet will run Wednesdays through Sundays, with the exception of Easter

Sunday, April 5. Stall applications for the Aqueduct spring meet and Belmont

spring/summer meet are due February 26.

"The 'Spring Showcase' meet at Aqueduct will usher in the season with at

least one stakes race on every Saturday and Sunday that we run," said Martin

Panza, Senior Vice-President of Racing Operations for the New York Racing

Association. "As well, the addition of four new stakes races on the turf in

conjunction with the return of racing to the main track will further enhance the

meet for horsemen and fans alike."

Overnight purses will increase during the Aqueduct spring meet with maiden

special weight purses rising to $70,000. Purses for first, second and

third-level allowance races will rise to $72,000, $74,000 and $78,000,

respectively.

"Overnight races comprise the backbone of our racing schedule, and the purses

will rise in accordance with the new focus on this special meet," said Panza,

who noted that the only "Spring Showcase" races that will not receive a hike in

purses are claiming races that already are at their statutory limits.

Rounding out the stakes schedule for the 19-day meet is a trio of traditional

graded stakes: the Grade 3, $200,000 Top Flight Handicap for fillies and mares

going 1 1/8 miles on April 11; the Grade 2, $200,000 Distaff Handicap for filly

and mare sprinters on April 18, and the Grade 3, $200,000 Excelsior at 1 1/4

miles on April 25.

Joining the Belle Harbor on closing day at the Big A are two 6 1/2-furlong

New York Stallion Series races for three-year-olds: the $100,000 Times Square

and the $100,000 Park Avenue for fillies.

Following the conclusion of Spring Showcase on April 26, racing will return

to Belmont Park on April 29, for a 59-day spring/summer meet.

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