Laurel Stakes Give Automatic Entry to Malibu, La Brea

Two of the four stakes on Laurel Park's Nov. 30 program will serve as "Win and In" qualifiers for a pair of grade 1 races at Santa Anita Park next month, the Maryland Jockey Club announced Nov. 8.

Winners of the $100,000 City of Laurel Stakes for 3-year-olds and the $100,000 Safely Kept Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, both at seven furlongs, will earn automatic entry into the $300,000 Malibu Stakes (G1) and $300,000 La Brea Stakes (G1), respectively, on opening day of Santa Anita's winter/spring meet Dec. 26.

Both the Malibu and La Brea are also contested at seven furlongs. If the winner of Laurel's races go in either race, they will be given a $2,500 stipend toward travel costs.

"The Maryland Jockey Club is excited to have this incentive for not only our owners and trainers stabled in Maryland, but also the Mid-Atlantic Region," said Laurel's racing secretary, Chris Merz. "I would like to thank Santa Anita for working with us and making this great incentive possible."

Laurel will host four $100,000 stakes Nov. 30. The City of Laurel and Safely Kept will be joined by the Richard W. Small Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles and the Thirty Eight Go Go Stakes for fillies and mares, 3 and older, going about 1 1/16 miles.