Minor changes to Del Mar's fall stakes schedule

DEL MAR, Calif. – Del Mar will run 35 stakes at its 16-day autumn meeting from Nov. 1-26, including 20 stakes on Nov. 3-4, when the track hosts the Breeders’ Cup races for the first time.

The Nov. 3-4 programs will feature the 13 seven-figure Breeders’ Cup races and seven stakes worth $150,000 to $200,000 each. The undercard races include two Grade 2 stakes worth $200,000 each – the Las Vegas Marathon at 1 3/4 miles on Nov. 3 and the Goldikova Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile on turf Nov. 4.

The distances of two turf sprints have been shortened from about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside course at Santa Anita in recent years to five furlongs at Del Mar – the Grade 2 Sen. Ken Maddy Stakes for fillies and mares on Nov. 3 and the $200,000 Juvenile Turf Sprint for 2-year-olds on Nov. 4.

After Breeders’ Cup weekend, the stakes schedule is similar to recent autumn meetings, with an emphasis on graded stakes on turf on Thanksgiving weekend. There are two Grade 1 turf races worth $300,000 on closing weekend – the Hollywood Derby at 1 1/8 miles on Nov. 25 and the Matriarch Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile Nov. 26.

The track has restored one race that was not run last year – the $100,000 Desi Arnaz Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at seven furlongs Nov. 18 – but is not running the Grade 2 Bayakoa Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles.

The $200,000 Bayakoa is being considered for the Los Alamitos December meeting, track officials said Thursday.