Gulfstream Set for Historic Championship Meet

In the shadow of its towering Pegasus statue, Gulfstream Park stands poised to make history.

When the important Thoroughbred winter meet opens Dec. 3, Gulfstream will offer:

• A record $25 million stakes purse disbursement, including the record $12 million purse for the world's richest horse race, the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (gr. I).

• The 66th running of the $1 million Florida Derby (gr. I) and a meet with many of the country's most promising classic contenders.

The inaugural running of the Pegasus World Cup Invitational is a 1 1/8-mile stakes for which 12 placeholders put up $1 million each for a chance to take down the record $7 million winner's purse Jan. 28.

"We believe the upcoming Championship Meet will be a truly unique experience for everyone," said P.J. Campo, vice president of racing for The Stronach Group and general manager of Gulfstream. "From the moment we open Saturday, with the $1.1 million Claiming Crown, Gulfstream will play host to the biggest stars and biggest events.

               

"The $12 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational, the richest horse race in the world, will be historic. No one has ever put on a race like this in the history of the sport. The Fountain of Youth (gr. II) and Lambholm South Holy Bull (gr. II) continue to be key prep races for the Florida Derby and Triple Crown. Our world-class turf course and main track will play host to the biggest equine stars. Our program will once again be supported by the top trainers and jockeys in the sport.

               

"Along with our world-class racing, we will have a newly designed dining room and theater, and our events will once again include the prestigious Eclipse Awards on Jan. 21. We're excited. We want everyone to witness the world's best racing in this unique, state-of-the-art facility."

The 66th running of the $1 million Florida Derby will be celebrated April 1, highlighting a schedule of 93 stakes for the Championship Meet. The 1 1/8-mile stakes for 3-year-olds was won last year by Nyquist  , who became the 23rd Florida Derby champion to go on to capture the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

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Several 2016 Triple Crown hopefuls will be stabled at Gulfstream and its satellite training facilities—Palm Meadows in Palm Beach County and Gulfstream Park West in Miami Gardens—including Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) winner Classic Empire, Delta Jackpot (gr. III) winner Gunnevera, Champagne (gr. I) victor Practical Joke and Kentucky Jockey Club (gr. II) winner McCraken.

The  Pegasus World Cup and its supporting stakes, the $400,000 Poseidon, will  boost the total disbursement of stakes purses to more than $25 million for the meet that will run through April 2.

            

A total of 39 graded stakes will be contested during the 87-day meeting, several of which will be grouped on multi-stakes programs, including Florida Derby Day, when supporting features will include the Gulfstream Park Oaks (gr. II), Honey Fox (gr. IIT), Pan American (gr. IIT), Appleton (gr. IIIT), and Orchid (gr. IIIT). Other cards will be highlighted by important Florida Derby preps, the $350,000 Lambholm South Holy Bull Feb. 4 and the $400,000 Fountain of Youth March 4.

            

The $350,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (gr. IT) will be renewed Feb. 11, along with the Gulfstream Park Handicap (gr. II) and Suwannee River (gr. IIIT). Gulfstream's turf course, renovated over the spring, summer, and fall, will once again feature the sport's elite turf runners. Winners across Gulfstream's turf course last year included Photo Call, Catch a Glimpse, and Heart to Heart.

The Championship Meet will kick off Saturday with the 18th edition of the $1.1 million Claiming Crown, a nine-stakes showcase for horses that started for a claiming price at least once.

            

The Sunshine Millions, a $1 million five-stakes showcase for Florida-bred horses, will be renewed Jan. 21 and will be followed that evening by the 46th annual Eclipse Awards in Gulfstream's Sport of Kings facility. 

            

Trainer Todd Pletcher is gearing up for a quest to capture an unprecedented 14th consecutive Championship Meet title, while jockey Javier Castellano will seek his sixth consecutive Championship Meet crown. Ken and Sarah Ramsey will vie for their sixth straight owner's title.