The New York Racing Associationannounced Aug. 15 the stakes schedule for the 31-dayBelmont at the Big A fall meet.
Due to the ongoing construction of the new Belmont Park, the fall meet will once again be conducted at Aqueduct Racetrack. The fall meet will begin Sept.13 and run through Nov.3, including four grade 1s and six Breeders' Cup Challenge Series events. The meet will offer a total of 50 stakes worth $10.35 million in total purses.
The Belmont at the Big A stakes action kicks off on Opening Day Sept.13 with the listed $150,000 Winter Memories Stakes at one mile on turf for sophomore fillies.
Sept. 14 features the 1 3/8-mile $350,000 Jockey Club Oaks Invitational Stakes(G3T) to conclude the lucrative turf series for sophomore fillies that saw Cinderella's Dream win both the Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (G1T) in July and the Saratoga Oaks Invitational Stakes (G2T) Aug.2.
The $150,000 Lonesome Glory, a 2 3/8-mile steeplechase for older horses will go as the first grade 1 of the meet Sept. 19.
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The following week, Sept.21, will see the $175,000 Noble Damsel (G3T) for fillies and mares at one mile on turf ahead of the first New York-bred stakes of the meetSept. 22 with a pair of seven-furlong sprints worth $125,000 for state-bred juveniles in the Bertram F. Bongard Stakes and its female counterpart, the Joseph A. Gimma Stakes.
New York-bred stakes action continues with a pair of 1 1/8-mileturf events Sept. 26 with the $125,000 John Hettinger Stakes for fillies and mares, and again Sept. 27with the state-bred $125,000 Ashley T. Cole Stakes for 3-year-olds and up.
Sept.28 features a loaded card of four graded events, including the first grade 1 flat race of the meet in the $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/2 miles on turf. The card is supported by the $400,000 Woodward Stakes (G2) at 1 1/8 milesfor 3-year-olds and up, and a pair Breeders' Cup Challenge Seriesevents in the $250,000 Vosburgh Stakes (G3), a seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up that awards the winner a berth into the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) in November at Del Mar and the $200,000 Pilgrim Stakes (G2T) at 1 1/16 miles on turf for 2-year-olds providing automatic entry to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T).
The weekend wraps up with two more grade 2 tilts Sept.29 with the $250,000 Gallant Bloom (G2) at 6 1/2 furlongs for fillies and mares; and the $200,000 Miss Grillo Stakes (G2T) for fillies, awarding a "Win and You're In" berth to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T).
Oct.4-6 will see a plethora of graded events, beginning with the $200,000 Waya Stakes (G3T) at 1 3/8 miles on turf for fillies and mares; and the $175,000 Futurity Stakes (G3T) for juveniles sprinting six furlongs on the lawn in hopes of securing a "Win and You're In" spot in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T).
Oct.5 provides another stacked card of graded events, led by two grade 1 "Win and You're In" qualifiers at one mile for juveniles in the $500,000 Champagne Stakes (G1)and $400,000 Frizette Stakes (G1), providing automatic berths to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), respectively.The card is supported by the $200,000 Belmont Turf Sprint (G3T) for 3-year-olds and up sprinting six furlongs; and the $500,000 Jockey Club Derby InvitationalStakes (G3T) on turf for sophomores at 1 3/8 miles.
Graded action continues into the Oct.6 card, including the $250,000 Beldame (G2) at 1 1/8 milesfor fillies and mares; and the $175,000 Matron Stakes (G3T) for juvenile fillies sprinting six furlongs on the turf.
Oct.26 will offer three stakes, including the $250,000 Forty Niner (G3), a one-turn mile for 3-year-olds and up that will offer the top three finishers a free nomination and starting fee in the Cigar Mile Handicap (G2)to be run during the Aqueduct fall meet. The lucrative card also includes the $250,000 Mother Goose Stakes (G2), a 1 1/8-miletest for sophomore fillies, and the $175,000 Bold Ruler (G3) at six furlongs for 3-year-olds and up.
Other graded events slated for the Belmont at the Big A fall meet are the $200,000 Sands Point Stakes (G2T) for sophomore fillies Oct.12and the $175,000 Knickerbocker (G3T) for 3-year-olds and up Oct. 13, both at 1 1/8 miles on the grass.
Oct.27 is the annual Empire Showcase Day card, which includes eight New York-bred stakes valued at $1.6 million in total purses. The card is highlighted by two 1 1/8-mile events worth $250,000 in the Empire Classic and its counterpart, the Empire Distaff for fillies and mares. Empire Showcase Day will also include four $200,000 stakes in the Sleepy Hollow, Maid of the Mist, Mohawk, and Ticonderoga, along with a pair of $150,000 stakes in the Iroquois and Hudson.
Closing Weekend of the Belmont at the Big A fall meet spans Nov. 1-3—dates previously offered at the Aqueduct Racetrack fall meet.
Friday's card will feature the $150,000 Atlantic Beach at six furlongs for juvenile turf sprinters ahead of Saturday card that includes four stakes, including a trio of listed $150,000 events in the Nashua at one mile for 2-year-olds, the Tempted at one mile for juvenile fillies, and the Artie Schiller for 3-year-olds and up going one mile on turf. Also on tap Saturday is the $135,000 Stewart Manor, a six-furlong turf sprint for 2-year-old fillies.
The Belmont at the Big A fall meet concludes Nov.3 with a pair of listed $150,000 main-track stakes for fillies and mares in the Pumpkin Pie at seven furlongs and the Turnback the Alarm at 1 1/8 miles,along with the $150,000 Discovery at the same distancefor sophomores.
For the complete Belmont at the Big A stakes schedule, click here.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
