Belmont's program for 2-year-olds producing solid gains

The program for 2-year-olds at Belmont Park has seen significant gains in starters over the last four years.

In 2016, 166 2-year-old starters made 212 starts. In 2013, 66 2-year-olds combined to make 69 starts. In the New York-bred ranks, the numbers grew from 15 starters who made 17 starts in 2013 to 73 starters who made 101 starts in 2016.

A commitment to fill 2-year-old races at the meet, the restoration of early season stakes such as the Tremont and Astoria, as well as a bonus program that has made some maiden special weight races worth $100,000 have combined to help the juvenile program grow. The first races for 2-year-olds this meet – both carry a $100,000 purse – are scheduled for May 3 (for females) and May 4 (males). The bulk of the maiden special weight races will be worth $75,000.

The increase in the number of juvenile starters at Belmont has aided Saratoga as well. The number of 2-year-old starts at Saratoga has also grown from 560 starts from 431 starters in 2013 to 681 starts from 552 starters in 2016.

“Not only did it pay dividends for the Belmont meet but it carried over into the Saratoga meet,” said Martin Panza, the New York Racing Asociation’s senior director of racing operations. “It’s a combination of us making the races in the book and owners getting used to that, and they’re beginning to believe they can send their 2-year-olds to New York in May and June because we’re going to make those races.”