FTBOA Enhances Summer Stakes Purses for Florida-Breds

The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association has devoted more than $2.2 million to promote the Royal Palm Meet at Gulfstream Park this summer including $375,000 in purse enhancements for Florida-breds and Florida Sire Stakes-eligible runners in stakes, $250,000 in FTBOA Florida-bred Incentive Funds, and $1.4 million for the prestigious FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series for eligible 2-year-olds.

Two open stakes will offer $50,000 purse enhancements for Florida-bred winners including the $250,000 Princess Rooney (G2) and $100,000 Smile Sprint (G3), both slated for July 2. The Princess Rooney is for fillies and mares, 3-years-old and older at seven furlongs and the Smile is for 3-year-olds and older at six furlongs.

A day later, the $100,000 Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint, for 3-year-olds and older going five-and-a-half furlongs on Tapeta, will offer a $25,000 supplement for a Florida-bred winner.

Eight stakes slated for Florida-breds during the Royal Palm Meet will have purse enhancements for Florida Sire Stakes eligible winners.

The $65,000 Ginger Punch on June 4, the $65,000 Soldier's Dancer on June 12, the $65,000 Benny the Bull on Aug. 13 and the $65,000 Sheer Drama on Sept. 10 will all offer $35,000 purse enhancements for Florida Sire Stakes eligible winners.

The Ginger Punch is for fillies and mares, 3-years-old and older at seven-and-a-half furlongs and the Soldier's Dancer is for 3-year-olds and older, also at 7 1/2 furlongs.

The Benny the Bull and Sheer Drama are both for 3-year-olds and older at seven furlongs with the Sheer Drama restricted to fillies and mares.

Four stakes for Florida-bred juveniles will each offer a $15,000 Florida Sire Stakes purse enhancement for eligible winners including the $60,000 Juvenile Fillies Sprint and $60,000 Juvenile Sprint on Oct. 29, both at seven furlongs; and the $60,000 Juvenile Fillies and $60,000 Juvenile, each at a mile on the turf on Nov. 12.

The $100,000 Gil Campbell Memorial for Florida-bred 3-year-olds and older at a mile on Oct. 1, will in addition to the base purse offer a $50,000 Florida Sire Stakes supplement to be split among the eligible runners who finish, second or third on a 70%-20%-10% basis.

"Florida-breds are so important to Gulfstream Park racing and these supplements certainly will make our stakes more attractive," Gulfstream Park vice president of racing Mike Lakow said.

The FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes for 2-year-olds by registered FTBOA Florida stallions will again highlight the summer racing program at Gulfstream beginning with the $100,000 Dr. Fager and $100,000 Desert Vixen for fillies, both at six furlongs, on Aug. 6.

The lucrative series continues at seven furlongs on Sept. 3 with the $200,000 Affirmed and $200,000 Susan's Girl for fillies before concluding at 1 1/16 miles on Oct. 1 with the $400,000 In Reality and $400,000 My Dear Girl for fillies.

"The FTBOA is once again pleased to offer numerous economic incentives in terms of either funding entire stakes purses, as is the case with our six FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes races for 2 year-old and the new Gil Campbell Memorial, or the plethora of bonuses the FTBOA offers ranging from Florida-bred to FSS Eligible Florida-breds throughout the year of which we are offering $375,000 just for the current Royal Palm Meet alone," FTBOA CEO Lonny Powell said. "Selecting the races and purses to be enhanced by and at the discretion of FTBOA for both Gulfstream and Tampa is an extremely pleasant task for me personally to undertake each year. It lets us lead in going above and beyond contribution requirements for the sake of taking our industry onward and upward.

"The FTBOA is also pleased beyond expectations by the incredible growth of the Florida Sire Stakes with a 14% increase in eligible foals compared to the prior year. This is proof as to the popularity and broad awareness of our FSS program and nationally acclaimed signature 2-year-old stakes. The FSS program is working well in terms of providing some of the very highest stakes purse schedules at each track—including the highest for the Royal Palm meet—while putting additional money into the hands of the deserving owners, trainers and breeders of our Florida-breds, which is a very good thing for the entire Florida racing and breeding industries."

The FTBOA will also supplement 10 maiden special weight races for 2-year-old fillies eligible for the Florida Sire Stakes with a $5,000 supplement for the winners of each and 10 maiden special weight races for 2-year-olds eligible for the Florida Sire Stakes with $5,000 supplement for the winners.

"The Florida Sire Stakes have become big days for us," Lakow said "So it certainly helps the fans appreciate the Florida breeding program. As far as the supplements to our 2-year-old races, it makes our Florida-bred program that more attractive to the breeders. And we appreciate all of the support from the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association."

There will also be an additional $250,000 in Florida-bred Incentive Fund (FTBOA FBIF) from the FTBOA to be used for overnight races during the Royal Palm Meet.