Golden Gate slates a dozen stakes for winter-spring meet

Golden Gate Fields said it will offer 12 stakes during its 97-day winter-spring meet, which begins Dec. 26.

The stakes schedule is identical to that offered during the 2013-14 meet, with the exception of date changes for a pair of $100,000 turf races for 3-year-old California-breds.

The Campanile for 3-year-old fillies and Silky Sullivan for 3-year-olds will be run on April 26, the day after the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile is run. The Campanile and Silky Sullivan were run in June in 2014.

“We switched the races this year because we’re trying to make it a big weekend with a turf festival event with the San Francisco Mile on Saturday,” said racing secretary Patrick Mackey.

Mackey said Golden Gate may schedule more stakes for California-bred turf runners on April 26.

“This allows us to highlight Cal-breds, and we know both horsemen and fans like turf racing,” he said.

Three-year-olds are in the spotlight early in the meeting, with the $100,000 California Derby set for Jan. 17 and the Grade 3, $200,0000 El Camino Real Derby on Feb. 14. The El Camino Real awards Kentucky Derby eligibility points to the top finishers.

The California Derby is run at 1 1/16 miles and the El Camino Real Derby at 1 1/8 miles.

The Grade 3 All American at one mile on the main track will be run on Memorial Day, May 25.