Gulfstream announces 2012-13 stakes schedule

Gulfstream Park announced today it will offer 61 stakes races (33 graded)

worth more than $10.1 million during its 2012-13 Thoroughbred race meet,

highlighted by the 62nd running of the Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby on

March 30.

The 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby will be one of seven stakes races -- six of them

graded -- contested on March 30 with total stakes purses of $1.875 million.

Other races on Florida Derby Day include the Grade 2, $300,000 Gulfstream Park

Oaks, Grade 3, $150,000 Rampart, Grade 3, $150,000 Orchid, Grade 3, $100,000

Skip Away and Grade 3, $100,000 Appleton.

Gulfstream's 90-day winter meet will kick off December 1 with the 14th

running of the Claiming Crown, an $850,000 seven-stakes event designed to

recognize and celebrate the sport's most enduring and competitive claiming

horses.

The Grade 2, $400,000 Fountain of Youth, contested at 1 1/16 miles, will be

one of three graded stakes races February 23 along with the Grade 2, $250,000

Davona Dale at 1 1/16 miles for three-year-old fillies and the Grade 3, $150,000

Canadian Turf for four-year-olds and up at a mile.

The Grade 3, $400,000 Holy Bull, for three-year-olds at a 1 1/16 miles, and

the Grade 2, $200,000 Forward Gal, for three-year-old fillies at seven furlongs,

will both be contested on January 26.

The $1.3 million Florida Sunshine Millions, typically run the last weekend in

January, will be run January 19 and serve as a prelude to the 42nd annual

Eclipse Awards, capping off a week of fund-raising activities for Thoroughbred

retirement and aftercare.

The 55th running of the Grade 1, $500,000 Donn Handicap will headline four

graded stakes on February 9 for older horses. The three other stakes will be the

Grade 1, $300,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap and the Grade 3, $150,000

Suwannee River, both at 1 1/8 miles on the turf, and the Grade 2, $150,000

Gulfstream Park Sprint at seven furlongs.

The inaugural running of the Sophomore Soiree, contested New Year's Day, will

feature four stakes races for three-year-olds including the second running of

the $100,000 Gulfstream Park Derby and Grade 3, $100,000 Old Hat.

The weekend of March 2-3 will feature three graded stakes for

three-year-olds: the Grade 3, $150,000 Swale at seven furlongs, the Grade 3,

$150,000 Palm Beach at 1 1/8 miles on the turf, and the Grade 3, $100,000

Herecomesthebride for fillies at 1 1/8 miles on the turf.

The inaugural running of the Gulfstream Park Thoroughbred Aftercare Stallion

Stakes, for progeny of stallions whose fees are donated to an on-line auction to

benefit retired Thoroughbred horses, will be run closing day, April 5, for

three-year-olds and up at 7 1/2 furlongs.

"We believe the stakes schedule for the 2012-13 meeting is the most varied

and valuable we have ever offered," Gulfstream President and General Manager

Timothy Ritvo said. "Because of the commitment to Thoroughbred racing by our

Chairman, Mr. Frank Stronach, we have been able to work with our industry

partners to bring the prestigious Eclipse Awards to Gulfstream as well as the

popular Claiming Crown. We have made some slight adjustments to our stakes

schedule, but we believe our horsemen, who have been incredible partners of

ours, will find the changes beneficial and rewarding."

For the complete stakes schedule, click

here.

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