Gulfstream Park Kicks Off Championship Meet Dec. 2

The 2020-21 Championship Meet at Gulfstream Park will get under way Dec. 2, with the 84 racing days including 75 stakes, 37, worth $13.06 million in purses.

Racing will be conducted primarily on a Wednesday-through-Sunday schedule with a first-race post time set at 12:35 p.m. ET through March 27.

Under COVID-19 pandemic protocols, racing will be conducted without spectators.

"We're extremely optimistic for a fantastic Championship Meet," said Mike Lakow, vice president of racing at Gulfstream. "The barns are full with many of the top trainers, including some wintering here for the first time. We're also happy with the way our turf course has thrived during the extreme rainy season here this fall."

The Jan. 23 card will be highlighted by the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) and Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1T) stakes. The former race will serve as a "Win and You're In" event for the Feb. 20 Saudi Cup, and the turf race will be a qualifer for the Middle Distance Turf Handicap on the Saudi Cup undercard.

The Florida Derby (G1) will headline the March 27 program that will also include the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2). The 2020 Florida Derby winner, Tiz the Law, went on to win the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) and Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1), and is back in South Florida pointing for a start in the Pegasus World Cup. This year's Gulfstream Park Oaks heroine, Swiss Skydiver, defeated boys in the Preakness Stakes (G1).

Gulfstream's races for 3-year-olds with points toward a spot in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) include the Jan. 30 Holy Bull Stakes (G3), Feb. 27 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2), and the Florida Derby. Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) preps for 3-year-old fillies will start with the Jan. 30 Forward Gal Stakes (G3), followed by the Feb. 27 Davona Dale Stakes (G2), then the Gulfstream Park Oaks.

Turf racing during the meet will feature the Dec. 12 Fort Lauderdale Stakes (G2T), the Feb. 27 Mac Diarmida Stakes (G2T), and the March 27 Pan American Stakes (G2T).

The Dec. 5 card will be filled by the Claiming Crown, a program for horses that have started for a claiming price at least once during the past two years. The $150,000 Jewel, a 1 1/8-mile stakes for 3-year-olds and up that have started for a claiming price of $35,000 or lower, is featured among nine Claiming Crown stakes. Jesus' Team, who finished third in the Preakness and second in the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), is expected to headline the Jewel.

Irad Ortiz Jr. will be back to defend the riding titles he won in 2018-19 and 2019-20. The jockey colonoy will also include Luis Saez, John Velazquez, Javier Castellano, Edgar Prado, Tyler Gaffalione, Jose Ortiz, and Edgard Zayas.

Todd Pletcher, who regained his training title last season, will seek his 17th Championship Meet title. Horsemen shipping in include Shug McGaughey, Bill Mott, Mike Maker, Mark Casse, Ken McPeek, Chad Brown, and Christophe Clement. New stables at Gulfstream and its satellite training center Palm Meadows include Brad Cox, Jack Sisterson, Brittany Russell, Jeremiah Englehart, and Butch Reid.

The Championship meet concludes March 28.