Gulfstream Park Sets Lucrative Race Schedule

Gulfstream Park's spring and summer meet will feature 41 stakes races worth a record $5.575 million in purses, highlighted by the $1.1 million Summit of Speed card and three legs of the $2.9 million Florida Sire Stakes series.

This schedule has been significantly enhanced, as their 2015 spring and summer meet featured 29 stakes races worth $4.75 million.

P.J. Campo, Gulfstream's general manager, described what the enhanced schedule should achieve for the track and the region.

"This is another step in our efforts to reinvigorate and rebuild the summer racing schedule in Florida," Campo said. "We continue to see more horsemen applying for year-round stalls and more interest in our stakes schedule.

"We are committed to building our summer schedule. We believe it will make for a stronger overall program in Florida and will showcase large fields and quality racing."

The spring-summer stakes schedule kicks off with the $100,000 Miami Mile (gr. III) on April 30.

Five big-day programs with a minimum of six stakes have been scheduled. They include Summit of Speed Day—when three graded events will be supported by six other stakes—and the three Florida Sire Stakes cards.

The Summit of Speed will be hosted for the second consecutive year by Gulfstream Park July 2. It includes the $250,000 Princess Rooney (gr. II), the $250,000 Smile Sprint (gr. II) and the $150,000 Carry Back (gr. III).

The $2.9 million Florida Sires Stakes series, limited to horses sired by Florida stallions,  is scheduled for Aug. 6, Sept. 3 and Oct. 1.

It begins with the $200,000 Dr. Fager and the $200,000 Desert Vixen for 2-year-olds, and the $150,000 Unbridled and the $150,000 Three Ring for 3-year-olds.

The second leg includes the $300,000 Affirmed and the $300,000 Susan's Girl for 2-year-olds, as well as the $150,000 Prized and $150,000 Jewel Princess for sophomores.

The lucrative series wraps up with the $500,000 In Reality and the $500,000 My Dear Girl for juveniles, and $150,000 Foolish Pleasure and $150,000 Meadow Star for 3-year-olds.

A card with seven stakes is slated for June 4 before the meet concludes on June 30.