TORONTO, Ontario - It will be status quo this year for the stakes program at Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Thirty stakes races worth a combined $1.25 million are on tap for the 70-day meeting, which runs from May 6 through Sept. 24. The highlight once again will be the Manitoba Lotteries Derby. An open 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds, the $100,000 Manitoba Lotteries Derby is the meet's most lucrative race, and will be run on the Civic Holiday program Aug. 7 along with three $40,000 stakes: the Jack Hardy, Wheat City, and Winnipeg Futurity. Other highlights include the Matron Breeders' Cup and Gold Breeders' Cup, both of which offer purses of $65,000, including $25,000 in Breeders' Cup funds, and will be run on the closing weekend of the meeting. Racing secretary Ray Miller said the training track has been open since the beginning of March, and the main track should open in early April. 2006 stakes schedule DATEEVENTCONDITIONSDISTANCEPURSE Sat.June 3GOLDEN BOY3YO 6 furlongs40,000 Sun.June 4LA VERENDRYEF&M, 3YO & Up 6 furlongs40,000 Sun.June 11CHANTILLY3YO F6 furlongs40,000 Sun.June 18FREE PRESS 3YO & Up 6 furlongs 40,000 Sat.June 24MANITOBA C&G, 3YO* 1 mile 40,000 Sat. July 1CANADA DAYF&M, 3YO & Up1 mile40,000 Sun.July 2NORTH DAKOTA DERBY 3YO1 mile20,000 Sat.July 8MATURITY 4YO* 1 1/16 miles 40,000 Sat.July 15DEBUTANTE2YO F5 1/2 furlongs40,000 Sun.July 16DERBY TRIAL3YO1 1/16 miles40,000 Sat.July 22R.C. ANDERSON 3YO F* 1 mile 40,000 Sun. Jul. 23FRANK ARNASON 2YO* 6 furlongs 40,000 Sat. Jul. 29NORTH DAKOTA STALLION 3YO1 1/16 miles 20,000 Sun.Aug. 6WINNIPEG SUNF&M, 3YO & Up1 1/16 miles40,000 Mon.Aug. 7MANITOBA LOTTERIES DERBY3YO 1 1/8 miles 100,000 Mon.Aug. 7JACK HARDY3YO F1 mile40,000 Mon.Aug. 7WHEAT CITY 3YO & Up1 mile40,000 Mon.Aug. 7WINNIPEG FUTURITY2YO6 furlongs40,000 Sat.Aug. 19AGASSIZC&G, 3YO & Up* 1 mile40,000 Sun.Aug. 20NORTH DAKOTA STALLION 2YO 6 furlongs 30,000 Sun.Aug. 27HARRY JEFFREY3YO 1 1/8 miles 40,000 Sat.Sept. 2R.J. SPEERS3YO & Up1 1/16 miles 40,000 Sun.Sept. 3ASSINIBOIA OAKS3YO F 1 1/16 miles 40,000 Sun.Sept. 4NORTH DAKOTA FUTURITY2YO 6 furlongs25,000 Mon.Sept. 4DISTAFF F&M, 3YO & Up* 1 mile 40,000 Mon.Sept. 4CTHS SALES 2YO6 furlongs40,000 Sat.Sept. 16J.W. SIFTON3YO* 1 1/8 miles 40,000 Sun.Sept. 17BUFFALO2YO* 1 mile 40,000 Sat.Sept.. 23MATRON BREEDERS' CUP F&M, 3YO & Up1 1/8 miles65,000 Sun.Sept. 24GOLD BREEDERS' CUP 3YO & Up1 1/8 miles 65,000 *Manitoba-bred