NYRA Announces Spring Stakes Schedule at Aqueduct

The New York Racing Association announced Dec. 5 the race dates and stakes schedule for the 2020 spring meet at Aqueduct Racetrack. The 13-day meet, which follows its winter meet and is highlighted by the Wood Memorial Stakes (G1) April 4, will commence April 2 and conclude April 19.

The spring meet will feature 15 stakes, including six graded contests, worth a collective $3.1 million. Five of those graded stakes will be part of a loaded Wood Memorial Day card April 4, topped by the 96th running of the  $750,000 Wood Memorial for 3-year-olds that offers 100-40-20-10 qualifying points to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1). The undercard will include the $400,000 Carter Handicap (G1) for 4-year-olds and up, the $300,000 Gazelle (G2) for 3-year-old fillies, the $250,000 Bay Shore (G3) for 3-year-olds and the $150,000 Excelsior (G3) for 4-year-olds and up.

The first graded stakes for the meet will come with the $150,000 Distaff Handicap (G3) for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up at seven furlongs April 3.

There will be no live racing on Easter, April 12. The meet's final week, which starts April 15, will offer five stakes, starting with the $100,000 Mizdirection for 3-year-old fillies on turf April 17. Two stakes the following day will see sophomores going 1 1/16 miles on turf in the $100,000 Woodhaven and 3-year-old fillies in a 6 1/2-furlong sprint in the New York Stallion Stakes Series Park Avenue for 3-year-old filly state-breds.

Closing day, April 19, will see 3-year-old fillies racing 1 1/16 miles on turf in the $100,000 Memories of Silver and state-bred 3-year-olds competing at 6 1/2 furlongs in the $200,000 Memories of Silver Stakes, part of the New York Stallion Series Series.