NYRA Announces Stakes Schedule for Belmont Fall Meet
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Photo: Coglianese Photos
Racing at Belmont Park
The New York Racing Association July 6 announced the stakes schedule for the 28-day fall meet at Belmont Park, which will include 20 graded stakes among 47 total stakes worth $11.15 million in purses.
The fall meet, which will run Sept. 16—Oct. 31, will offer four grade 1 races and five Breeders' Cup Challenge qualifiers to the World Championships in November at Del Mar.
The first two stakes will come Sept. 17 during the meet's second day, with a pair of $100,000 six-furlong turf sprints: the Allied Forces for sophomores and the Christiecat for 3-year-old fillies. The following day will feature the first Breeders' Cup qualifier on the docket with the $1 million Jockey Club Derby for 3-year-olds going 1 1/2 miles on the turf in the final leg of NYRA's Turf Triple. The series begins with the $1 million Belmont Derby (G1T) in July and continues with the $1 million Saratoga Derby (G1T) in August at historic Saratoga Race Course.
Sept. 18 will also see the $700,000 Jockey Club Oaks, the concluding leg of the Turf Triple for 3-year-old fillies, held at 1 3/8 miles, with the card bolstered by the 1 5/8-mile $300,000 Grand Prix American Jockey Club Invitational.
The weekend of Sept. 25-26 will encompass the meet's first graded stakes races, with that Saturday offering the $300,000 Kelso Handicap (G2) for 3-year-olds and up going one mile on the main track and the $200,000 Athenia (G3T) for fillies and mares 3-year-olds competing at 1 1/8 miles on the turf. The following day will see fillies and mares 3-and-up sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs in the $250,000 Gallant Bloom (G2), with the undercard rounded out by the $150,000 Bertram F. Bongard for New York-bred juveniles going seven furlongs.
Seven graded stakes will comprise the weekend of Oct. 2-3, as a pair of grade 1 events highlight the Saturday card with the $500,000 Woodward (G1) for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles on Big Sandy and the $500,000 Champagne (G1) for 2-year-olds running one mile in a prestigious race affording a spot in the $2 million TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1) to the winner. The $200,000 Miss Grillo (G2T) will see juvenile fillies running 1 1/16 miles on turf that day, along with the $200,000 Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational (G3T) for 3-year-olds and up going six furlongs on the grass. The high-level action will continue Sunday, with the $400,000 Frizette (G1) for 2-year-old fillies at one mile with a spot in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) up for grabs. The day will also include the $200,000 Pilgrim (G2T) for juveniles going 1 1/16 miles on the turf and the $300,000 Fasig-Tipton Waya (G3T) at 1 3/8 miles in a turf route for fillies and mares 3-and-up.
Jackie's Warrior wins the 2020 Champagne Stakes at Belmont
The following weekend will again provide a chance to see top-caliber racing, with Oct. 9 showcasing the $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1T) for 3-year-olds and up in a marathon 1 1/2-mile turf competition, with the $250,000 Vosburgh (G2), a six-furlong Breeders' Cup Challenge event for the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1), bolstering the undercard along with the $150,000 Matron (G3T) for juvenile fillies. Oct. 10 will offer the fall meet's final Breeders' Cup qualifier with the $150,000 Futurity (G3T) for 2-year-olds going six furlongs on the turf providing a spot in the $2 million Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2T). Also on tap that day will be the $250,000 Beldame (G2) at nine furlongs for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up; and the $150,000 Knickerbocker (G3T) for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles on the turf.
Closing weekend on Oct. 30-31 will see a packed Saturday that will offer eight stakes for New York-breds on Empire Showcase Day, led by the $300,000 Empire Classic for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles. A trio of $250,000 stakes includes the Empire Distaff, Sleepy Hollow, and Maid of the Mist. Also on tap will be two $200,000 contests in the Mohawk and Ticonderoga, along with a pair of $150,000 stakes in the Iroquois and Hudson. Closing day on Sunday will conclude the meet with five stakes: the $150,000 Zagora for fillies and mares 3-and-up; the Pumpkin Pie for the same division going seven furlongs; the $100,000 Awad for juveniles at 1 1/16 miles on the turf, and the $100,000 Chelsey Flower for 2-year-old fillies going the same distance.
Three stakes have been added to the fall schedule, starting with the $100,000 Glen Cove for sophomores fillies sprinting seven furlongs on the turf Oct. 15. The $100,000 Carle Place, for 3-year-olds also going seven furlongs on the turf, will be held Oct. 22, while the $100,000 Oyster Bay for 3-year-olds and up going seven furlongs on the turf will be run Oct. 29.
Belmont Park 2021 Fall Meet Stakes Schedule
| Date | Purse | Race |
Grade
|
Conditions | Distance | Surface |
| Sept. 17 | $100,000 | Allied Forces Stakes |
|
3YO | 6 Furlongs | Turf |
| Sept. 17 | $100,000 | Christiecat Stakes |
|
3YO F | 6 Furlongs | Turf |
| Sept. 18 | $1 Million | Jockey Club Derby (BC) |
|
3YO | 1 1/2 Miles | Turf |
| Sept. 18 | $700,000 | Jockey Club Oaks |
|
3YO F | 1 3/8 Miles | Turf |
| Sept. 18 | $300,000 | Grand Prix American Jockey Club Invitational |
|
3&UP | 1 5/8 Miles | Dirt |
| Sept. 19 | $150,000 | Pebbles Stakes |
|
3YO F | 1 Mile | Turf |
| Sept. 24 | $125,000 | Ashley T. Cole Stakes (NYB) |
|
3&UP | 1 1/8 Miles | Turf |
| Sept. 24 | $150,000 | Joseph A. Gimma Stakes (NYB) |
|
2YO F | 7 Furlongs | Dirt |
| Sept. 25 | $200,000 | Athenia Stakes |
3
|
3&UP F&M | 1 1/8 Miles | Turf |
| Sept. 25 | $300,000 | Kelso Handicap |
2
|
3&UP | 1 Mile | Dirt |
| Sept. 26 | $150,000 | Bertram F. Bongard Stakes (NYB) |
|
2YO | 7 Furlongs | Dirt |
| Sept. 26 | $250,000 | Gallant Bloom Handicap |
2
|
3&UP F&M | 6 1/2 Furlongs | Dirt |
| Oct. 1 | $125,000 | John Hettinger Stakes (NYB) |
|
3&UP F&M | 1 1/8 Miles | Turf |
| Oct. 2 | $200,000 | Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational Stakes |
3
|
3&UP | 6 Furlongs | Turf |
| Oct. 2 | $500,000 | Champagne Stakes |
1
|
2YO | 1 Mile | Dirt |
| Oct. 2 | $200,000 | Miss Grillo Stakes |
2
|
2YO | 1 1/16 Miles | Turf |
| Oct. 2 | $500,000 | Woodward Stakes |
1
|
3&UP | 1 1/8 Miles | Dirt |
| Oct. 3 | $300,000 | Fasig-Tipton Waya Stakes |
3
|
3&UP F&M | 1 3/8 Miles | Turf |
| Oct. 3 | $400,000 | Frizette Stakes (BC) |
1
|
2YO F | 1 Mile | Dirt |
| Oct. 3 | $200,000 | Pilgrim Stakes |
2
|
2YO | 1 1/16 Miles | Turf |
| Oct. 9 | $500,000 | Joe Hirsch Turf Classic |
1
|
3&UP | 1 1/2 Miles | Turf |
| Oct. 9 | $150,000 | Matron Stakes |
3
|
2YO F | 6 Furlongs | Turf |
| Oct. 9 | $250,000 | Vosburgh Stakes (BC) |
2
|
3&UP | 6 Furlongs | Dirt |
| Oct. 10 | $250,000 | Beldame Stakes |
2
|
3&UP F&M | 1 1/8 Miles | Dirt |
| Oct. 10 | $150,000 | Futurity Stakes (BC) |
3
|
2YO | 6 Furlongs | Turf |
| Oct. 10 | $150,000 | Knickerbocker Stakes |
3
|
3&UP | 1 1/8 Miles | Turf |
| Oct. 15 | $100,000 | Glen Cove Stakes |
|
3YO F | 7 Furlongs | Turf |
| Oct. 16 | $200,000 | Sands Point Stakes |
2
|
3YO F | 1 1/8 Miles | Turf |
| Oct. 17 | $150,000 | Floral Park Stakes |
|
3&UP F&M | 6 Furlongs | Turf |
| Oct. 22 | $100,000 | Carle Place Stakes |
|
3YO | 7 Furlongs | Turf |
| Oct. 23 | $400,000 | Hill Prince Stakes |
2
|
3YO | 1 1/8 Miles | Turf |
| Oct. 23 | $200,000 | Noble Damsel Stakes |
3
|
3&UP F&M | 1 Mile | Turf |
| Oct. 24 | $100,000 | Point of Entry Stakes |
|
3&UP | 1 1/2 Miles | Turf |
| Oct. 29 | $100,000 | Oyster Bay Stakes |
|
3&UP | 7 Furlongs | Turf |
| Oct. 30 | $200,000 | Bold Ruler Handicap |
3
|
3&UP | 7 Furlongs | Dirt |
| Oct. 30 | $300,000 | Empire Classic Stakes (NYB) |
|
3&UP | 1 1/8 Miles | Dirt |
| Oct. 30 | $250,000 | Empire Distaff Stakes (NYB) |
|
3&UP F&M | 1 1/16 Miles | Dirt |
| Oct. 30 | $150,000 | Hudson Stakes (NYB) |
|
3&UP | 6 1/2 Furlongs | Dirt |
| Oct. 30 | $150,000 | Iroquois Stakes (NYB) |
|
3&UP F&M | 6 1/2 Furlongs | Dirt |
| Oct. 30 | $250,000 | Maid of the Mist Stakes (NYB) |
|
2YO F | 1 Mile | Dirt |
| Oct. 30 | $200,000 | Mohawk Stakes (NYB) |
|
3&UP | 1 1/16 Miles | Turf |
| Oct. 30 | $250,000 | Sleepy Hollow (NYB) |
|
2YO | 1 Mile | Dirt |
| Oct. 30 | $200,000 | Ticonderoga (NYB) |
|
3&UP F&M | 1 1/16 Miles | Turf |
| Oct. 31 | $100,000 | Awad Stakes |
|
2YO | 1 1/16 Miles | Turf |
| Oct. 31 | $100,000 | Chelsea Flower Stakes |
|
2YO F | 1 1/16 Miles | Turf |
| Oct. 31 | $100,000 | Pumpkin Pie Stakes |
|
3&UP F&M | 7 Furlongs | Dirt |
| Oct. 31 | $150,000 | Zagora Stakes |
|
3&UP F&M | 1 1/2 Miles | Turf |
*(BC) indicates Breeders' Cup Challenge Event
*(NYB) indicates race restricted to New York-breds