Aqueduct to Offer Claiming Championships
Image:
Description:
The New York Racing Association announced Dec. 1 the stakes schedule for the 2015 winter meet at Aqueduct Racetrack, which will offer 23 stakes worth more than $3 million, as well as the inaugural running of the New York Claiming Championship Series scheduled for Saturday, March 21.
The winter meet, which runs through March 22, features five graded stakes, including a trio of important events around two turns for newly minted 3-year-olds: $200,000 Jerome (gr. II) at one mile, 70 yards on Jan. 3, the $250,000 Withers (gr. III) at 1 1/16 miles on Saturday, Feb. 7, and the $400,000 Gotham (gr. III), also at 1 1/16 miles, on Saturday, March 7.
Rounding out the graded stakes are the $150,000 Toboggan (gr. III) on Feb. 7 and the $200,000 Tom Fool Handicap (gr. III) on March 7, both at six furlongs.
New to the winter schedule is the New York Claiming Championship Series, which will feature a number of lucrative starter allowance races in different categories for the blue-collar horses that NYRA says comprise the backbone of winter racing at the Big A.
"The inaugural New York Claiming Championship Series gives those horses who have run at Aqueduct during the winter months their chance to shine on a prominent day of racing," said Martin Panza, senior vice president of racing operations for the New York Racing Association. "The Claiming Crown (currently run at Gulfstream Park in December) has been very successful, and we anticipate a great day of championship racing for our claiming horses and an enthusiastic crowd of their loyal followers for this new event."
The stakes schedule for Aqueduct's spring meet, highlighted by the $1 million Wood Memorial (gr. I), will be announced in the coming days.
Aqueduct Winter Stakes Schedule
| Race | Stakes | Grade | Purse | Age | Distance |
| Thurs., Jan 1 | Affectionately | 100,000 | F&M 4&UP | 1 1/16 M | |
| Fri., Jan. 2 | Fred "Cappy" Capossela | 100,000 | 3 YO | 6 Furlongs | |
| Sat., Jan. 3 | Jerome | II | 200,000 | 3YO | 1 Mile 70 Yds |
| Sun., Jan 4 | Ruthless | 100,000 | F 3YO | 6 Furlongs | |
| Sat., Jan. 10 | Busanda | 100,000 | F 3YO | 1 Mile 70 Yds | |
| Sat., Jan. 17 | TRIPLE CROWN (Early Closing) | ||||
| Sat., Jan. 17 | Interborough | 100,000 | F&M 4&UP | 6 Furlongs | |
| Sun., Jan. 18 | Hollie Hughes (NYB) | 100,000 | 4 & UP | 6 Furlongs | |
| Mon., Jan. 19 | Jazil | 100,000 | 4 & UP | 1 Mile 70 Yds | |
| Sat., Jan. 24 | Rego Park (NYB) | 125,000 | 3 YO | 6 Furlongs | |
| Sat., Jan 31 | Ladies Hdcp | 100,000 | F&M 4&UP | 1 1/8 M | |
| Sun., Feb. 1 | Franklin Square (NYB) | 125,000 | F 3YO | 6 Furlongs | |
| Sat., Feb. 7 | Toboggan | III | 150,000 | 4 & UP | 6 Furlongs |
| Sat., Feb. 7 | Withers | III | 250,000 | 3 YO | 1 1/16 M |
| Sat., Feb. 14 | Broadway (NYB) | 100,000 | F&M 4&UP | 6 Furlongs | |
| Mon., Feb. 16 | Evening Attire | 100,000 | 4 & UP | 1 1/16 M | |
| Sat., Feb. 21 | Busher | 100,000 | F 3YO | 1 1/16 M | |
| Sat., Feb. 28 | Jimmy Winkfield | 100,000 | 3 YO | 6 Furlongs | |
| Sat., Mar. 7 | Tom Fool Hdcp. | III | 200,000 | 4 & UP | 6 Furlongs |
| Sat., Mar. 7 | Gotham | III | 400,000 | 3YO | 1 1/16 |
| Sat., Mar. 7 | Cat Cay | 100,000 | F&M 4&UP | 1 1/16 M | |
| Sat., Mar. 14 | Correction | 100,000 | F&M 4&UP | 6 Furlongs | |
| Sun., Mar. 15 | Cicada | 100,000 | F 3YO | 6 Furlongs | |
| Sat., Mar. 21 | New York Claiming Championship Series | ||||
| Sun., Mar. 22 | Stymie | 100,000 | 4 & UP | 1 1/8 | |
| Mon., Mar. 23 | TRIPLE CROWN (Late Closing) |