Arlington Announces 2015 Stakes Schedule

The $1 million Arlington Million (gr. IT) in mid-August anchors Arlington International Racecourse's 2015 stakes schedule of 18 races worth a combined $3.5 million.  

 

Stakes action is focused on the Arlington International "Summer Stakes Spectacular" from July 4 through Aug. 29 and also includes six stakes races for Illinois-breds .

 

The Arlington Million is the marquee race of the International Festival of Racing on Saturday, Aug. 15. The festival will include five graded stakes races on the grass—three grade I events and a pair of grade III's—showcasing the talents of runners from multiple divisions. 

 

Arlington Million is a 1 1/4-mile test for 3-year-olds and up and the $750,000 Beverly D. (gr. IT) goes at 1 3/16 miles for fillies and mares. The third grade I on the card is the $500,000 Secretariat Stakes (gr. IT) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/4 miles.

 

Also on the program are two grade III events, most notably the newly upgraded $400,000, 1 11/16-mile American St. Leger (gr. IT) for 3-year-olds and up. The $100,000 Pucker Up Stakes rounds out the stakes action on the card, showcasing 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/8 miles on the turf.

 

Saturday, July 11 on the calendar when Arlington holds "Million Preview Day." The top three finishers in each of the day's four grade III stakes will have their entry and starting fees waived for the corresponding race during the International Festival.

 

The grade III Arlington Handicap and the grade III Modesty Handicap both offer a $150,000 purse for 3-year-olds and up going 1 3/16 miles on the grass as preps for the Arlington Million and the Beverly D., respectively, with the Modesty restricted to fillies and mares. The grade III $150,000 American Derby at 1 1/8 miles is for grass-favoring sophomores looking to punch their ticket to the Secretariat Stakes, while marathon runners can contest the grade III $100,000 Stars and Stripes at 1 1/2 miles on the turf as a prep for the American St. Leger.

 

The following weekend includes the first graded stakes race of the season on the main track with the grade III $100,000 Hanshin Cup for 3-year-olds and up at one mile on Saturday, July 18.

 

Illinois-bred stakes races are included throughout the season, including: the Purple Violet Stake, July 4 (3-year-old fillies, one mile); the Springfield Stakes, July 25 (3-year-olds, one mile); the Isaac Murphy Handicap (3-year-olds & up, fillies & mares, six furlongs) and the Addison Cammack Handicap (3-year-olds & up, 6 furlongs) on August 1; and on August 8, both the Mike Spellman Memorial Handicap (3-year-olds & up, fillies & mares, 1 1/16 miles turf) and the Black Tie Affair Handicap (3-year-olds & up, 1 1/16 miles turf). All Illinois-bred stakes races have $75,000 purses.

 

A pair of juvenile races rounds out the Arlington International stakes schedule, bringing the 2-year-old division into focus with the grade III $100,000 Arlington-Washington Futurity at seven furlongs on Polytrack on Saturday, Aug. 22, and the listed $75,000 Arlington-Washington Lassie for fillies at seven furlongs on the main track on Saturday, Aug. 29.

 

For the complete 2015 stakes schedule, click here.