Suffolk

EAST BOSTON, Mass - Racing secretary John Morrissey has released a slate of 25 stakes races to be contested between Jan. 19 and the close of the meeting on June 8.

The highlight of the $1.34 million package is the 63rd running of the Grade 2 Massachusetts Handicap on June 1. The $500,000 Mass Cap is one of four stakes scheduled for that afternoon's card. The co-feature is the $150,000 James B. Moseley Breeders' Cup Handicap at six furlongs.

The remaining 23 stakes on the schedule, including 10 races restricted to Massachusetts-breds, are worth $30,000 each. The Floyd Duncan for fillies and mares at six furlongs will launch the stakes season a week from Saturday.

* Yasou Kayla, who shared year-end honors as the year's best 2-year-old filly in 2000, suffered a bowed tendon in last Saturday's $19,000 featured allowance race and has been retired. Owned, bred, and trained by Charlie Assimakopoulos, the 4-year-old Yasou Kayla won 5 of 9 career starts, including her last three, and banked $52,000. Assimakopoulos plans to breed her.

* Pip's Angel finished 2001 with four straight wins, then began 2002 with a decisive six-length romp over allowance company. A 4-year-old Fire Maker filly who races for Christine Fionda and James Mogauro, Pip's Angel began her streak in October against bottom-level conditioned claiming company but she scored her last two in the allowance ranks for trainer John Rigattieri. Dyn Panell was aboard for all five wins.