Stakes Purses Climb for Gulfstream's Championship Meet
Image:
Description:
Photo: Coglianese Photos/Meg Griffen
Knicks Go leads on his way to victory in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes at Gulfstream Park
A major race will be inaugurated, and a significant purse increase for a tradition-rich Triple Crown prep will be introduced in Gulfstream Park's 2021-22 Championship Meet stakes schedule released Oct. 8.
A total of 76 stakes (37 graded) worth $14.26 million, $1 million more than the previous year, will be run during the prestigious winter meet that runs Dec. 3-April 3.
The $500,000 Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf Stakes (G3T) will debut on the Jan. 29 program that will be co-headlined by the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1), a 1 1/8-mile stakes for 4-year-olds and up, and the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes (G1T), a 1 1/8-mile turf race for 4-year-olds and up on turf. The 1 1/16-mile turf event for older fillies and mares, which will replace the Marshua's River Stakes on the new schedule, will be one of seven graded stakes worth $5.2 million on a world-class Thoroughbred racing program.
Purses for all 3-year-old stakes on Gulfstream Park's Road to the Kentucky Derby have been increased, most notably the 70th running of the April 2 Curlin Florida Derby (G1). The historic 1 1/8-mile stakes, which has produced the winners of 60 Triple Crown races, will be renewed for a purse of $1 million, a $250,000 increase over last season. The Florida Derby will be supported by six graded stakes, including the $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), a 1 1/16-mile stakes for 3-year-old fillies, and the $200,000 Kitten's Joy Pan American Stakes (G2T), a 1 1/2-mile turf event for older horses. Total purses for 10 stakes races on Florida Derby Day will be $2.2 million.
The field leaves the gate in the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park
The Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) will be renewed for $400,000, up from last season's purse of $350,000, on a March 5 program that will feature nine graded stakes. The 1 1/16-mile key prep for the Florida Derby will be supported by three other grade 2 stakes, including the $200,000 Davona Dale Stakes (G2), a mile stakes for 3-year-old fillies; the $200,000 WinStar Gulfstream Park Mile Stakes (G2), a mile stakes for 4-year-olds and up; and the $200,000 Mac Diarmida Stakes (G2T), a 1 3/8-mile turf event for older horses.
The Mucho Macho Man Stakes, a mile race for 3-year-olds, will kick off Gulfstream's Triple Crown prep season Jan. 1 with a $50,000 purse increase to $150,000. The Holy Bull Stakes (G3), a 1 1/16-mile stakes for Florida Derby and Triple Crown hopefuls, will be renewed Feb. 5 with a $400,000 purse, a $50,000 increase over last season. The Holy Bull will be supported by the $100,000 Claiborne Swale Stakes (G3), a seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds; the $100,000 Forward Gal Stakes (G3), a seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-old fillies; the $100,000 Kitten's Joy Stakes (G3T), a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds; and the $100,000 Sweetest Chant Stakes (G3T), a 1 1/16-mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies.
The Claiming Crown, the nine-race event for the blue-collar horses that have run for claiming prices, will be held for the 10th consecutive year at Gulfstream Park Dec. 4. The $125,000 Claiming Crown Jewel, the 1 1/8-mile headliner for 3-year-olds and up, was won last season by Jesus' Team , who went on to finish second behind Knicks Go in the Pegasus World Cup.
The first multi-graded-stakes program is scheduled for Dec. 13, featuring the $200,000 Fort Lauderdale Stakes (G2T), a 1 1/8-mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds and up. The card with five graded stakes will also include the $150,000 Harlan's Holiday Stakes (G3), 1 1/16-mile event for 3-year-olds and up that received a $50,000 purse increase; the $100,000 Rampart Stakes (G3), a mile race for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up; the $100,000 Sugar Swirl Stakes (G3), a six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up; and the $100,000 Suwannee River Stakes (G3T), a mile turf event for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up.
In addition to the Pegasus World Cup, Pegasus World Cup Turf, and the Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf, the Jan. 29 program will offer four other graded stakes—the $200,000 Inside Information Stakes (G2), a seven-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares; the $150,000 William L. McKnight Stakes (G3T), a 1 1/2-mile turf race for 4-year-olds and up that received a $50,000 purse boost; the $150,000 La Prevoyante Stakes (G3T), a 1 1/2-mile turf race for older fillies and mares; and the $150,000 Fred W. Hooper Stakes (G3), a mile event for 4-year-olds and up.
The Florida Derby Day program will offer 10 stakes for a total of $2.2 million in purses. In addition to the Florida Derby, Gulfstream Park Oaks, and the Kitten's Joy, graded stakes action will include the $100,000 Ghostzapper Stakes (G3), a 1 1/8-mile stakes for 4-year-olds and up; the $100,000 Appleton Stakes (G3T), a mile turf race for 4-year-olds and up; and the $150,000 Orchid Stakes (G3T), a 1 1/2-mile turf event for older fillies and mares that received a $50,000 purse boost.
There are no stakes scheduled for the newly installed Tapeta course, but the all-weather racing surface will be employed in the event stakes are transferred from the turf due to inclement conditions.
| Gulfstream Park 2021-22 Championship Meet Stakes Schedule | ||||||
| Date | Purse | Race | Grade | Conditions | Distance | Surface |
| Dec. 3 | $75,000 | Pulpit | 2YO | 1 M | Turf | |
| Dec. 3 | $75,000 | Wait A While | 2YO F | 1 M | Turf | |
| Dec. 4 | $125,000 | Claiming Crown Jewel ($35,000 or less) | 3&UP | 1 1/8 M | Dirt | |
| Dec. 4 | $95,000 | Claiming Crown Tiara ($25,000 or less) | 3&UP, F&M | 1 1/16 M | Turf | |
| Dec. 4 | $95,000 | Claiming Crown Emerald ($25,000 or less) | 3&UP | 1 1/16 M | Turf | |
| Dec. 4 | $90,000 | Claiming Crown Canterbury ($25,000 or less) | 3&UP | 5 F | Turf | |
| Dec. 4 | $90,000 | Claiming Crown Distaff Dash ($25,000 or less) | 3&UP, F&M | 5 F | Turf | |
| Dec. 4 | $85,000 | Claiming Crown Rapid Transit ($16,000 or less) | 3&UP | 7 F | Dirt | |
| Dec. 4 | $80,000 | Claiming Crown Glass Slipper ($12,500 or less) | 3&UP, F&M | 1 M | Dirt | |
| Dec. 4 | $75,000 | Claiming Crown Express ($8,000 or less) | 3&UP | 6 F | Dirt | |
| Dec. 4 | $75,000 | Claiming Crown Iron Horse ($8,000 or less) | 3&UP | 1 1 /16 M | Dirt | |
| Dec. 11 | $100,000 | Mr. Prospector | 3 | 3&UP | 7 F | Dirt |
| Dec. 18 | $200,000 | Fort Lauderdale | 2 | 3&UP | 1 1/8 | Turf |
| Dec. 18 | $150,000 | Harlan's Holiday | 3 | 3&UP | 1 1 /16 M | Dirt |
| Dec. 18 | $100,000 | Rampart | 3 | 3&UP, F&M | 1 M | Dirt |
| Dec. 18 | $100,000 | Sugar Swirl | 3 | 3&UP, F&M | 6 F | Dirt |
| Dec. 18 | $100,000 | Suwannee River | 3 | 3&UP, F&M | 1 M | Turf |
| Dec. 24 | $100,000 | H. Allen Jerkens | 3&UP | 2 M | Turf | |
| Dec. 26 | $100,000 | Tropical Park Derby | 3YO | 1 1/16 | Turf | |
| Dec. 26 | $100,000 | Tropical Park Oaks | 3YO F | 1 1/16 | Turf | |
| Dec. 31 | $100,000 | Abundantia | 3&UP, F&M | 5 F | Turf | |
| Dec. 31 | $100,000 | Janus | 3&UP | 5 F | Turf | |
| Dec. 31 | $100,000 | Via Borghese | 3&UP, F&M | 1 3/8 | Turf | |
| Jan. 1 | $150,000 | Mucho Macho Man | 3YO | 1 M | Dirt | |
| Jan. 1 | $100,000 | Cash Run | 3YO F | 1 M | Dirt | |
| Jan. 1 | $100,000 | Ginger Brew | 3YO F | 1 M | Turf | |
| Jan. 1 | $100,000 | Limehouse | 3YO | 6 F | Dirt | |
| Jan. 1 | $100,000 | Dania Beach | 3YO | 1 M | Turf | |
| Jan. 1 | $100,000 | Glitter Woman | 3YO F | 6 F | Dirt | |
| Jan. 8 | $100,000 | Tropical Turf | 3 | 4&UP | 1M | Turf |
| Jan. 15 | $75,000 | Sunshine Classic (FL BRED) | 4&UP | 1 1/8 M | Dirt | |
| Jan. 15 | $75,000 | Sunshine Sprint (FL BRED) | 4&UP | 6 F | Dirt | |
| Jan. 22 | $75,000 | Sunshine Turf (FL BRED) | 4&UP | 1 1/8 | Turf | |
| Jan. 22 | $75,000 | Sunshine F&M Turf (FL BRED) | 4&UP, F&M | 1 M | Turf | |
| Jan. 29 | $3,000,000 | Pegasus Dirt | 1 | 4&UP | 1 1/8 M | Dirt |
| Jan. 29 | $1,000,000 | Pegasus Turf | 1 | 4&UP | 1 1/8 | Turf |
| Jan. 29 | $500,000 | Pegasus F&M Turf | 3 | 4&UP, F&M | 1 1/16 | Turf |
| Jan. 29 | $200,000 | William L. McKnight | 3 | 4&UP | 1 1/2 | Turf |
| Jan. 29 | $200,000 | Inside Information | 2 | 4&UP, F&M | 7 F | Dirt |
| Jan. 29 | $150,000 | La Prevoyante | 3 | 4&UP, F&M | 1 1/2 | Turf |
| Jan. 29 | $150,000 | Fred W. Hooper | 3 | 4&UP | 1 M | Dirt |
| Feb. 5 | $250,000 | Holy Bull | 3 | 3YO | 1 1 /16 | Dirt |
| Feb. 5 | $100,000 | Claiborne Swale | 3 | 3YO | 7 F | Dirt |
| Feb. 5 | $100,000 | Kitten's Joy | 3 | 3YO | 1 1/16 | Turf |
| Feb. 5 | $100,000 | Sweetest Chant | 3 | 3YO F | 1 1/16 | Turf |
| Feb. 5 | $100,000 | Forward Gal | 3 | 3YO F | 7 F | Dirt |
| Feb. 12 | $100,000 | Ladies' Turf Sprint | 4&UP, F&M | 5 F | Turf | |
| Feb. 12 | $100,000 | Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint | 4&UP | 5 F | Turf | |
| Feb. 19 | $150,000 | Gulfstream Park Sprint | 3 | 4&UP | 6 F | Dirt |
| Feb. 26 | $150,000 | Royal Delta | 3 | 4&UP, F&M | 1 1 /16 M | Dirt |
| March 5 | $400,000 | Fasig Tipton Fountain of Youth | 2 | 3YO | 1 1 /16 M | Dirt |
| March 5 | $200,000 | Davona Dale | 2 | 3YO F | 1 M | Dirt |
| March 5 | $200,000 | WinStar Gulfstream Park Mile | 2 | 4&UP | 1 M | Dirt |
| March 5 | $200,000 | Mac Diarmida | 2 | 4&UP | 1 3/8 | Turf |
| March 5 | $150,000 | Canadian Turf | 3 | 4&UP | 1 1/16 M | Turf |
| March 5 | $150,000 | Honey Fox | 3 | 4&UP, F&M | 1 M | Turf |
| March 5 | $150,000 | The Very One | 3 | 4&UP, F&M | 1 3/8 | Turf |
| March 5 | $125,000 | Herecomesthebride | 3 | 3YO F | 1 M | Turf |
| March 5 | $125,000 | Palm Beach | 3 | 3YO | 1 M | Turf |
| March 12 | $100,000 | Hurricane Bertie | 3 | 4&UP, F&M | 6 1/2 F | Dirt |
| March 12 | $100,000 | Captiva Island | 4&UP, F&M | 5 F | Turf | |
| March 19 | $100,000 | Silks Run | 4&UP | 5 F | Turf | |
| March 19 | $100,000 | Hutcheson | 3YO | 6 F | Dirt | |
| March 19 | $100,000 | Any Limit | 3YO F | 6 F | Dirt | |
| March 26 | $75,000 | Texas Glitter | 3YO | 5 F | Turf | |
| March 26 | $75,000 | Melody of Colors | 3YO F | 5 F | Turf | |
| April 2 | $1,000,000 | Curlin Florida Derby | 1 | 3YO | 1 1 /8 M | Dirt |
| April 2 | $250,000 | Gulfstream Park Oaks | 2 | 3YO F | 1 1 /16 M | Dirt |
| April 2 | $200,000 | Kitten's Joy Pan American | 2 | 4&UP | 1 1/2 | Turf |
| April 2 | $150,000 | Orchid | 3 | 4&UP, F&M | 1 1/2 | Turf |
| April 2 | $100,000 | Ghostzapper | 3 | 4&UP | 1 1 /8 M | Dirt |
| April 2 | $100,000 | Appleton | 3 | 4&UP | 1 M | Turf |
| April 2 | $100,000 | Sir Shackleton | 4&UP | 7 F | Dirt | |
| April 2 | $100,000 | Sand Springs | 4&UP, F&M | 1 1/16 M | Turf | |
| April 2 | $100,000 | Cutler Bay | 3YO | 1 1/16 M | Turf | |
| April 2 | $100,000 | Sanibel Island | 3YO F | 1 1/16 M | Turf | |