HALLANDALE BEACH – Gulfstream Park kicks off what promises to be an exciting and engaging season of racing Thursday with an eight-race program beginning at 1:15 p.m. The summer season will feature a $3.775 stakes schedule, graded stakes, 2-year-old races and millions in Florida-bred incentives.

    “We like the schedule and the variety of races we will be able to run this summer,” said General Manager Bill Badgett. “We have a lot of horsemen the past several years who have decided to keep horses in South Florida because of our year-round schedule. We’ll have our usual allotment of 2-year-old races but you will see horsemen ship in more frequently because of our stakes schedule. We’re looking forward to a great summer of racing and events.”

    Coming off a Championship Meet highlighted by the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series, Florida Derby, Claiming Crown and Clasico Internacional del Caribe, Gulfstream’s summer season will turn its attention to 2-year-olds beginning April 11 with the first race for juvenile fillies, and April 12 with the first race for juvenile colts and geldings.

    The first stakes races of the summer season will come on Saturday, April 20, the $75,000 Roar for 3-year-olds and the $75,000 Game Face for 3-year-old fillies. The $100,000 Big Drama and $100,000 Musical Romance in May will be two of the 10 $100,000 FHBPA races throughout the season with six restricted to Florida-breds.

    The Summit of Speed, featuring five stakes including the $250,000, Gr. II Princess Rooney for fillies and mares and the $250,00, Gr. III Smile Sprint for 3-year-olds, will be run June 29. Along with the Princess Rooney and Smile Sprint, the Summit of Speed will include the $75,000 Azalea, $75,000 Carry Back and the $75,000 Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint.

    The popular $1.4 million FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes begins Aug. 3 with the $100,000 Desert Vixen and $100,000 Dr. Fager, both contested at six furlongs. The $200,000 Affirmed and $200,000 Susan’s Girl will be run Aug. 31 at seven furlongs. The $400,000 In Reality and My Dear Girl, at 1 1/16 miles, will conclude the series on Sept. 28.

    The Sept. 28 finals of the Sire Stakes will also include five $75,000 stakes races – the Mr. Steele, Armed Forces, Our Dear Peggy, Hollywood Beach and Monroe. The lucrative and popular Sire Stakes have produced Awesome Feather, Smile, Big Drama, Three Ring and Jackson Bend to name a few.

    Gulfstream will race live Thursday through Sunday. The full-service facility will be open seven days a week for simulcasting. comments powered by Disqus