Met Mile, other stakes moved to Belmont Day

[TouchOfGrey]

and others...

Belmont Stakes Day now second-richest day in North American racing with $8 million in purses

Five traditional Belmont Stakes Day contests - the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes; the Grade 1, $1 million Manhattan; the Grade 1, $750,000 Longines Just a Game; the Grade 2, $500,000 Woody Stephens; and the $150,000 Easy Goer will be back as part of the 2014 event.

Five stakes that were not contested on Belmont Stakes Day in 2013 will also be part of the 2014 card. Topping the list is the Grade 1, $1.25 million Metropolitan Handicap. Known as "The Met Mile," the race for 3-year-olds and older at one mile on the main track is annually considered one of the most prestigious races run in North America.

Also new to the Belmont Stakes Day lineup are the Grade 1, $1 million Ogden Phipps; the Grade 1, $750,000 Acorn; the Grade 2, $500,000 Brooklyn Invitational; and the Grade 3, $300,000 Jaipur Invitational. This year's renewal of the Brooklyn will include the "Brooklyn Bonus" whereby any horse who has previously won a graded stakes at 1 3/16 miles or longer will receive a bonus of $175,000 if he or she captures the Brooklyn.

The Metropolitan Handicap and the Ogden Phipps will also serve in 2014 as Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" races offering the winners fees-paid starting berths to the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and Breeders' Cup Distaff, respectively.