Monmouth Park: Salvator Mile back on stakes schedule

One long-standing Grade 3 stakes returns after a year’s absence, while two Grade 3 turf events are gone as part of the 2013 stakes schedule released by Monmouth Park on Friday.

Overall, Monmouth will offer 19 stakes worth a collective $3.75 million this season, down slightly from the 2012 stakes package of 22 stakes worth a combined $3.95 million. Overnight stakes, which will be announced at a later date, are not included in the totals.

The 2013 stakes include 16 graded races worth a total of $3.45 million.

The Salvator Mile, a Grade 3, $150,000 race at a mile on the main track, is back as a supporting stakes on the July 6 card that features the Grade 1, $500,000 United Nations. The Salvator Mile is one of Monmouth’s oldest races, dating back to 1948.

The Jersey Shore track has also beefed up its menu of stakes on its biggest day of the season. The Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Invitational for 3-year-olds will highlight a card with five graded stakes. The Grade 2, $200,000 Monmouth Cup will join a lineup that included the Grade 2, $200,000 Molly Pitcher for the first time in 2012. The five-pack of graded stakes on Haskell Day is rounded out by a pair of Grade 3, $200,000 events, the Taylor Made Matchmaker and the Oceanport.

In one other notable shift on the stakes calendar, the Grade 3 Red Bank, run on July 4 in 2012, will launch the graded stakes schedule on May 18.

The Grade 3 Pegasus Stakes for 3-year-olds received a $50,000 purse boost to $150,000.

Cut from the stakes schedule were the Grade 3 Violet for fillies and mares and the Grade 3 Boiling Springs for 3-year-old fillies. Both turf stakes date back to 1977 at the Meadowlands and were moved to Monmouth in 2004. The Boiling Springs was also not run in 2010.

The Monmouth season is scheduled to open on May 11.

[MORE: Complete 2013 Monmouth Park stakes schedule]