Delaware Park open for training

Delaware Park opened its main track for training April 1 in preparation for its 2016 season, which begins May 21. Racing will be held on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays through Oct. 15.

The highlights of the meet will be the Grade 1, $750,000 Delaware Handicap, a 1 1/4-mile race for fillies and mares July 16, and the Grade 3, $300,000 Delaware Oaks at 1 1/16 miles July 9.

There will be three supporting stakes on the Del Cap undercard, topped by the Grade 3, $200,000 Kent Stakes, a 1 1/8-mile turf race for 3-year-olds.

Delaware Oaks Day also will offer three additional stakes, including the Grade 3, $200,000 Robert G. Dick Memorial, a 1 3/8-mile turf race for fillies and mares.

In all, 16 stakes worth a combined $2.25 million will be held at the meet. Three $50,000 stakes – the Winter Melody, Stanton, and Justakiss – have been dropped from the schedule this year.

◗ Mountaineer Park and Finger Lakes are both scheduled to begin their 2016 seasons next Saturday, April 16.