NYRA sets BEL Spring/Saratoga stake schedules
 

Edited Press Release:
The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) has announced the stakes schedules for the 2011 Belmont Park spring/summer meet and the 2011 Saratoga Race Course meet.

As always, the Belmont spring/summer meet is highlighted by the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes. The 1 1⁄2-mile “Test of the Champion,” which serves as the culminating event in racing’s Triple Crown will be held on Saturday, June 11, as the pinnacle of an all-star stakes card that includes the Grade 1, $400,000 Manhattan Handicap for older horses on the turf, the Grade 1, $400,000 Just a Game for fillies and mares on the turf, the Grade 1, $300,000 Acorn for 3-year-old fillies, and a pair of sprints in the Grade 2, $250,000 True North Handicap for older horses at six furlongs and the Grade 2, $250,000 Woody Stephens for 3-year-olds going seven furlongs.

The Saratoga Meet, which kicks off for the 143rd time on Friday, July 22, is punctuated by 17 Grade 1 races beginning with the $250,000 Coaching Club American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies on opening weekend.

In addition to the historic Coaching Club American Oaks on Saturday, July 23, opening weekend at Saratoga also features a terrific slate of races including the Grade 3, $100,000 Schuylerville for 2-year-old fillies on Friday, July 22, the Grade 2, $150,000 Sanford for 2-year-olds on Sunday, July 24, and the Evan Shipman, a $75,000 stakes for New York-bred 3-year-olds and up on Monday, July 25.

This escaped a great deal of attention last weekend in the face of the stakes races, controversy, and what not. Here's a full story:

http://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/stories...les-2011.shtml

Four stakes that were not run last year are back including the Matron and Futurity, which will now be run on July 4 weekend. That means more 2YO races are going to be carded in May and June, something there wasn't a great deal of last year early in the Belmont summer meet.

The Saratoga schedule is basically identical to last year with only a few minor adjustments. Considering how deep and competitive the De La Rose has been over the last few years, it is a great addition to the Whitney day card.

I don't think it necessarily follows that we'll see more 2YO races at Belmont this spring. NYRA made the (unfortunately unsuccessful) attempt to first resurrect the Flash (and its female counterpart) to encourage early season 2YO racing, and then did away not only with the Flash but the Tremont as well. I'd bet this is as much about trying to preserve NYRA's options with the Matron and Futurity by keeping their graded status after a one-year hiatus (and it's easier to put the races in early July than between the Hopeful/Spinaway and Champagne/Frizette).