Saratoga stakes will include three run out of one-mile Wilson chute
While the heart of the Saratoga stakes schedule remains the same, there are a number of changes relating to distances, dates, names, and purses to the program that will offer 77 stakes worth $22.635 million this summer.
The 40-day Saratoga meet runs from July 14 through Sept. 5.
NYRA had previously announced the return of the Wilson chute, which allows for dirt races to be run at one mile. It has not been used since 1992. There are three stakes carded at that distance including the $135,000 Wilton, a new race for 3-year-old fillies who have not won an open stakes, to be run on the July 14 card. Other stakes to be run out of the chute include the Evan Shipman (previously run at 1 1/8 miles) for New York-breds and the Johnstone Mile Handicap for New York-bred 3-year-old fillies. The Johnstone was previously known as the Saratoga Dew and run at 1 1/8 miles and honors the late trainer and former manager of racing operations for NYRA who died in 2020. The Evan Shipman and Johnstone will be joined by the John Morrissey and Union Avenue, male and female sprinters, respectively, as part of an Aug. 12 card highlighting New York-breds.
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The NYRA has renamed the Stillwater Stakes the Suzie O’Cain, to honor the popular New York breeder who passed away in January. Previously run for 2-year-old New York-bred fillies at six furlongs on dirt, the Suzie O’Cain (July 20) will be for 3-year-old New York-bred fillies on turf at 1 1/16 miles. The Rick Violette (July 21), previously run for New York-bred 2-year-olds on dirt, is now for 3-year-old statebreds at 1 1/16 miles on turf.
Thirty-four stakes have received purse increases ranging from $15,000 to $100,000. The Grade 3 Troy Stakes, a turf sprint for males, received a $100,000 increase to $300,000 and is the standalone feature on Friday Aug. 5.
The Troy, typically part of the Whitney Day card, is one of three stakes previously run on a stakes-laden Saturday card that have been moved to a different day. The other such races include the Grade 1 Ballerina, which had been run on Travers Day since 2014 and is now scheduled for Aug. 28, the day after the Travers, and the Grade 2 Prioress, which this year will be run on Friday Sept. 2 rather than closing Saturday.
The Grade 1, $1 million Whitney is one of five stakes to be offered on Aug. 6. The card includes the $1 million Saratoga Derby Invitational -- newly minted as a Grade 1 -- and the Grade 1, $500,000 Test for 3-year-old fillies. The Grade 2 Glens Falls and listed Lure Stakes are also on that card.
The Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers for 3-year-olds, will be one of six graded stakes -- five of which are Grade 1s -- to be offered on Aug. 27. The $750,000 Sword Dancer, the $600,000 Personal Ensign, the $600,000 Forego, and the $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens are the other Grade 1s run that day. The card also includes the Grade 2, $400,000 Ballston Spa.
The Jockey Club Gold Cup, which last year was moved from Belmont to Saratoga, will be held at on Sept. 3. The base purse is $1 million, but should the winner of a Grade 1 or Group 1 race this year start in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, the purse will be bumped to $1.25 million. Additionally, the top four finishers from the Grade 2 Suburban, run on July 9, have their nomination, starter, and entry fees waived for the Gold Cup.