Eight Stakes Worth $900K in September at Laurel Park

Led by the storied Laurel Futurity for 2-year-olds and Selima for 2-year-old fillies, Laurel Park will offer eight stakes worth $900,000 in purses in September to kick off its calendar-year ending fall meet.

The fall meet is expected to open Saturday, Sept. 7 with the first three stakes coming a week later. The $100,000 Polynesian for 3-year-olds and up going one mile and a pair of $100,000 grass stakes for fillies and mares 3 and older, the six-furlong Sensible Lady Turf Dash and 1 1/8-mile All Along, are scheduled for Sept. 14.

Females will be in the spotlight again Sunday, Sept. 22 with the $100,000 Twixt for fillies and mares 3 and up going one mile and $100,000 Weather Vane for 3-year-old fillies sprinting six furlongs.

Co-headlining the Saturday, Sept. 28 program are the $150,000 Laurel Futurity and $150,000 Selima, both scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on the grass. They are joined by the $100,000 Japan Turf Cup for 3-year-olds and up at 1 ½ miles, also on turf.

The Laurel Futurity has a rich history dating back to 1921 inaugural winner Morvich, who would go on to win the 1922 Kentucky Derby. The Futurity has also been won by Triple Crown champions Affirmed, Citation, Count Fleet, and Secretariat along with such horses as Barbaro, Honest Pleasure, In Reality, Quadrangle, Riva Ridge, Spectacular Bid, and Tapit.

First run in 1926, the Selima is named for the great English race mare who was imported to the U.S. in the 1750s by Benjamin Tasker Jr., manager of the famed Belair Farm in Prince George's County. Among its winners are Hall of Famers Busher, Shuvee, La Prevoyante Mom's Command, and subsequent 2019 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) winner Sharing.