Princess Rooney, Smile Sprint Moved Back to September

Gulfstream Park's 2020 spring and summer stakes schedule, which will offer horsemen $3.78 million in purses, has moved the $300,000 Princess Rooney Stakes (G2) and $200,000 Smile Sprint Stakes (G3), both part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, from June to September.

The spring racing seasons begins April 2, and the stakes schedule kicks off Kentucky Derby Day, May 2, with the $100,000 Big Drama Stakes for Florida-breds and the Honey Ryder and English Channel stakes, both contested on the turf.

Moving the Princess Rooney and Smile Sprint to Sept. 5 will be the biggest change to the stakes schedule. The distance of the Princess Rooney has been shortened from seven furlongs to six furlongs, and the purse increased $50,000. The race day will also include the $75,000 Miss Gracie and $75,000 Bear's Den stakes.

"Both the Princess Rooney and Smile were moved from the middle of the summer to September in hopes of more participation moving closer to the fall," said Mike Lakow, Gulfstream's vice president of racing. "We also noticed there was a void in filly and mare grade 1 and 2 races under seven furlongs. Therefore, we changed the distance of the Princess Rooney to six furlongs and brought the purse to $300,000."

The winners of the Princess Rooney and Smile Sprint will receive automatic berths into the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) and the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1), respectively.

The upcoming meeting will mark the 39th anniversary of the $1.4 million Florida Sire Stakes series for 2-year-olds sired by accredited Florida stallions. The rich series, which has produced grade 1 winners Awesome Feather, Three Ring, Big Drama, Smile, and Jackson Bend, kicks off Aug. 1 with the $100,000 Dr. Fager and $100,000 Desert Vixen divisions. It continues Aug. 29 with the $200,000 Affirmed and $200,000 Susan's Girl divisions and culminates Sept. 26 with the $400,000 In Reality and $400,000 My Dear Girl divisions.

Gulfstream's live card on Preakness Stakes Day, May 16, will include the $100,000 Musical Romance Stakes for Florida-breds and the $75,000 Roar and $75,000 Powder Break stakes. Belmont Stakes Day, June 6, will feature the $100,000 Soldier's Dancer and $100,000 Ginger Punch stakes, both for Florida-breds.

Gulfstream will also have stakes races on three Saturdays during Saratoga Race Course's summer meet as well as three stakes on July 4 weekend.

"We set the stakes schedule to accompany important racing days and holidays," Lakow said.