Stakes purses increased for upcoming meet

Topped by the Grade 3, $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby, there will be 26 stakes worth $3.8 million offered at the 2024-25 Tampa Bay Downs meet that runs from Nov. 20 through May 3, the track announced in a press release Wednesday afternoon.

The $3.8 million, which represents a $350,000 increase from last year’s stakes purse money, includes $960,000 provided by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association through its registered Florida-bred and Florida Sire Stakes program. The FTBOA now has added money in all 26 stakes offered at the meet.

Ten stakes have received $25,000 in open purse increases and 11 stakes have seen increases overall. Meanwhile, the FTBOA is adding $25,000 in new funding for eligible horses finishing first, second, or third in the Grade 3 Challenger Stakes and the Columbia Stakes, both on March 8, as well as the Wayward Lass on Jan. 11, and the Minaret Stakes on Feb. 8. The Minaret had its purse raised from $50,000 to $100,000.

Other stakes to see purse increases include the Pasco and the Gasparilla, both on Jan. 11, from $125,000 to $150,000; the Leinster Turf Dash and the Leinster Lightning City Stakes on the turf, both on Feb. 22, from $100,000 to $125,000; and the Pelican Stakes on Feb. 8, from $100,000 to $125,000.

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The Pelican will be one of four stakes offered on a Feb. 8 program topped by the Grade 3, $250,000 Sam F. Davis for 3-year-olds hoping to jump on the Kentucky Derby trail. Also on that day are the $150,000 Suncoast and the Minaret.

That card is the preview for the March 8 program that includes the Tampa Bay Derby, won this year by Domestic Product, who most recently won Saturday’s Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens; the Grade 2, $225,000 Hillsborough, the Grade 3, $200,000 Florida Oaks as well as the previously mentioned Challenger and Columbia.

The stakes schedule gets underway on Dec. 7 with the $125,000, Inaugural Stakes at six furlongs for 2-year-olds and the $125,000, Sandpiper Stakes for 2-year-old fillies. Both races have been increased by $25,000.

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