Aqueduct releases winter/spring meet stakes schedule

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) on Thursday announced the

stakes schedule for Aqueduct's 2011 winter/spring meet. Once again, the

$750,000 Wood Memorial (G1) on April 9 is the centerpiece of 11 graded stakes

worth $2.35 million for the 80-day meet, which begins on January 1 and runs

through April 23.

Returning to the Big A's stakes schedule in 2011 are the $150,000 Tom Fool H.

(G2) for three-year-olds and up going six furlongs, which will be run on Gotham

S. (G3) day, March 5, and the $150,000 Jerome S. (G2) for three-year-olds going

a mile, which is set for April 23.

The Tom Fool was run at Aqueduct in 1975 and 1976 while the Jerome was run at

Aqueduct in 1960 and 1962-67. Both races had been held at Belmont Park the last

number of years. The Tom Fool also had its purse increased, to $150,000 from

$100,000.

Rotating off the 2011 Aqueduct winter/spring stakes calendar are the $150,000

Withers S. (G3), which is being alternated with the Jerome, and the $65,000

Paumonok S.

Replacing the spot the Paumonok had occupied on the calendar is the Toboggan

S. (G3), which in previous years had been run on the Gotham undercard. The

Toboggan, which has a purse of $100,000, will be run on January 22, giving the

Big A an earlier-than-usual start on the graded stakes season.

The changes give Aqueduct's winter/spring meet one more graded stakes than

last year, a total of two Grade 1s, three Grade 2s and six Grade 3s. Last year,

the stakes schedule included two Grade 1s, one Grade 2 and seven Grade 3s.

The Big A will also offer 18 listed and New York-bred stakes worth $1.24

million, beginning New Year's weekend with the $65,000 Interborough S., for

distaffers sprinting six furlongs, and the $65,000 Count Fleet S., for

three-year-olds at a mile and 70 yards on January 1. The $65,000 Ruthless S. for

three-year-old fillies going six furlongs will take place January 2.

The Big A's Triple Crown test, the 87th running of the 1 1/8-mile Wood

Memorial, highlights a main track card on April 9 that includes the $250,000

Carter H. (G1) at seven furlongs, the $200,000 Bay Shore S. (G3) sending

sophomores seven furlongs and the $150,000 Comely S. (G3) for three-year-old

filly milers.

The Aqueduct winter/spring stakes schedule, which was approved by the NYRA

board of directors, now awaits approval from the New York State Racing and

Wagering Board.

The remainder of the 2011 NYRA stakes schedule will be announced at a later

date.