NYRA Renews New York Stakes Turf, Flower Bowl Bonuses

The New York Racing Association Feb. 21 announced it will incentivize its Turf Triple series for fillies by again offering a pair of lucrative bonus opportunities at the upcoming Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course meets.

The "New York Stakes Turf Bonus" and "Flower Bowl Bonus," first offered in 2021, will again be offered by NYRA as further incentive for owners to participate in the prestigious filly Turf Triple series.

"We are pleased to again offer this bonus opportunity to our past filly Turf Triple series winners as they return in a highly competitive older filly and mare division," said Frank Gabriel Jr., NYRA's senior vice president of racing operations. "NYRA is committed to attracting the best turf fillies and mares in the division and providing our fans with the most exciting live racing on the continent."

The Turf Triple series for fillies kicks off July 9 at Belmont with the 10-furlong $700,000 Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1T). The series continues with the Saratoga Oaks Invitational (G3T) at Saratoga and is completed by the Jockey Club Oaks (G3T) at the Belmont fall meet.

The "New York Stakes Turf Bonus" will provide $315,000 to the owner and $35,000 to the trainer of any previous winner of the Belmont Oaks, Saratoga Oaks, or Jockey Club Oaks who captures the 2022 edition of the $750,000 New York (G1T), a 10-furlong turf test for older fillies and mares to be held June 10 at Belmont.

The "Flower Bowl Bonus" will provide $300,000 to the owner and $30,000 to the trainer of any previous winner of the Belmont Oaks, Saratoga Oaks, or Jockey Club Oaks, who captures the Flower Bowl (G2T), an 11-furlong test for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up in September at Saratoga. The Flower Bowl is a Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" event offering a berth in the Maker's Mark Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) in November at Keeneland.

The Turf Triple series, launched by NYRA in 2019, showcases the best 3-year-old turf runners in the country. Last year, a competitive renewal of the Turf Triple series for fillies saw three separate winners with Santa Barbara  capturing the Belmont Oaks en route to defeating older fillies and mares in the Beverly D. (G1T); Con Lima , who was named Texas Horse of the Year, taking the Saratoga Oaks; and Shantisara , who exited her Jockey Club Oaks score to capture the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Presented by Dixiana (G1T).