Monmouth upgrades stakes schedule
Monmouth Park will run six more stakes this year than in 2017 and has boosted its stakes schedule by $615,000. In all, Monmouth plans to hold 39 stakes at its 52-day meet, worth a total of $4.34 million.
The improved stakes schedule comes on the heels of the Jersey Shore track’s Jan. 23 announcement that it will offer owner and trainer participation bonuses this year, will continue to provide free workers’ compensation insurance for employees of trainers stabled at Monmouth, and will keep its stable area open later than usual, to Oct. 31.
The bonuses will guarantee owners a minimum of $500 per starter in non-statebred races and trainers $300 per starter.
While the 2018 stakes schedule is still $310,000 shy of what was offered in 2016 and $1.4 million less than 2015, it certainly is a step in the right direction. Overnight purses at the meet are expected to be on par with last year, according to track officials.
As usual, the highlight of the meet will be the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Invitational on July 29. The Haskell will be supported by five stakes, including four Grade 3 races – the Monmouth Cup, Molly Pitcher, Matchmaker, and Oceanport, which is being brought back after not being run in 2017.
Monmouth management also has bundled four stakes on four other days during the meet, the first of which will be topped by the Grade 2 Monmouth Stakes on May 26.
The Monmouth Stakes, which was held on Haskell Day last year, has had its purse boosted $50,000 to $200,000 and has been returned to its normal position on the calendar, where it will serve as a prep for the Grade 1 United Nations on June 30.
The Monmouth Stakes card also will include the Grade 3 Salvator Mile, Boiling Springs, and John J. Reilly.
The United Nations undercard includes the relocated Grade 3 Philip H. Iselin – which has traditionally been held in August – Grade 3 Eatontown, and Lady’s Secret Stakes.
The other bundled stakes day come on Father’s Day, June 17, and on Sept. 1, the Saturday of Labor Day weekend.
The Father’s Day card will include the Pegasus, Regret, Mr. Prospector, and Dan Horn Handicap.
The Labor Day Saturday stakes are the Grade 3 Red Bank, Grade 3 Violet, Sapling, and Sorority.
The Monmouth meet will open a week earlier than usual on Kentucky Derby Day, May 5, and run through Sept. 9. Six all-turf cards at The Meadowlands also will be held in September.
| Run Date | Stakes Name | Purse | Division | Distance | |
| 5-May-18 | Cliff Hanger Stakes | Listed | $75,000 | 3 and up | 1 mile (Turf) |
| 12-May-18 | Serena's Song Stakes | $60,000 | F & M 3 and up | 1 mile 70 yards | |
| 19-May-18 | Politely Stakes | $60,000 | F & M 3 and up | 1 mile (Turf) | |
| 26-May-18 | Monmouth Stakes | G2 | $200,000 | 3 and up | 1 1/8 miles (Turf) |
| 26-May-18 | Salvator Mile | G3 | $100,000 | 3 and up | 1 mile |
| 26-May-18 | Boiling Springs Stakes | Listed | $75,000 | 3 YO Fillies | 1 1/16 miles (Turf) |
| 26-May-18 | John J. Reilly Handicap | NJ Breds | $60,000 | 3 and up | 6 furlongs |
| 2-Jun-18 | Tale of the Cat Stakes | $60,000 | 3 YO | 1 1/16 miles (Turf) | |
| 9-Jun-18 | Ms. Liberty Stakes | Listed | $75,000 | F & M 3 and up | 1 1/16 miles (Turf) |
| 17-Jun-18 | Pegasus Stakes | Listed | $100,000 | 3 YO | 1 1/16 miles |
| 17-Jun-18 | Regret Stakes | $75,000 | F & M 3 and up | 6 furlongs | |
| 17-Jun-18 | Mr. Prospector Stakes | Listed | $75,000 | 3 and up | 6 furlongs |
| 17-Jun-18 | Dan Horn Handicap | NJ Breds | $60,000 | 3 and up | 1 1/16 miles (Turf) |
| 23-Jun-18 | Open Mind Stakes | $60,000 | 3 YO Fillies | 1 1/16 miles (Turf) | |
| 30-Jun-18 | United Nations Stakes | G1 | $300,000 | 3 and up | 1 3/8 miles (Turf) |
| 30-Jun-18 | Philip H. Iselin Stakes | G3 | $100,000 | 3 and up | 1 1/16 miles |
| 30-Jun-18 | Eatontown Stakes | G3 | $100,000 | F & M 3 and up | 1 1/16 miles (Turf) |
| 30-Jun-18 | Lady's Secret Stakes | Listed | $75,000 | F & M 3 and up | 1 1/16 miles |
| 4-Jul-18 | Jersey Girl Handicap | NJ Breds | $60,000 | F & M 3 and up | 1 mile (Turf) |
| 7-Jul-18 | betfair.com Long Branch Stakes | Listed | $100,000 | 3 YO | 1 1/16 miles |
| 14-Jul-18 | My Frenchman Stakes | $60,000 | 3 YO | 5 1/2 furlongs (Turf) | |
| 21-Jul-18 | Blue Sparkler Stakes | $60,000 | 3 YO Fillies | 5 1/2 furlongs (Turf) | |
| 29-Jul-18 | betfair.com Haskell Invitational | G1 | $1,000,000 | 3 YO | 1 1/8 miles |
| 29-Jul-18 | Monmouth Cup | G3 | $150,000 | 3 and up | 1 1/8 miles |
| 29-Jul-18 | Molly Pitcher Stakes | G3 | $100,000 | F & M 3 and up | 1 1/16 miles |
| 29-Jul-18 | WinStar Matchmaker Stakes | G3 | $100,000 | F & M 3 and up | 1 1/8 miles (Turf) |
| 29-Jul-18 | Oceanport Stakes | G3 | $100,000 | 3 and up | 1 1/16 miles (Turf) |
| 29-Jul-18 | Wolf Hill Stakes | $75,000 | 3 and up | 5 1/2 furlongs (Turf) | |
| 4-Aug-18 | Tyro Stakes | $60,000 | 2 YO | 5 furlongs (Turf) | |
| 4-Aug-18 | Colleen Stakes | $60,000 | 2 YO Fillies | 5 furlongs (Turf) | |
| 11-Aug-18 | Incredible Revenge Stakes | $75,000 | F & M 3 and up | 5 1/2 furlongs (Turf) | |
| 18-Aug-18 | Monmouth Oaks | G3 | $100,000 | 3 YO Fillies | 1 1/16 miles |
| 26-Aug-18 | NJ Breeders Handicap | NJ Breds | $60,000 | 3 and up | 6 furlongs |
| 26-Aug-18 | Charles Hesse III Handicap | NJ Breds | $60,000 | 3 and up | 1 1/16 miles |
| 26-Aug-18 | Eleven North Handicap | NJ Breds | $60,000 | F & M 3 and up | 6 furlongs |
| 1-Sep-18 | Red Bank Stakes | G3 | $100,000 | 3 and up | 1 mile (Turf) |
| 1-Sep-18 | Violet Stakes | G3 | $100,000 | F & M 3 and up | 1 1/8 miles (Turf) |
| 1-Sep-18 | Sapling Stakes | Listed | $75,000 | 2 YO | 1 mile |
| 1-Sep-18 | Sorority Stakes | $75,000 | 2 YO Fillies | 1 mile (Turf) |