Three new stakes for Pennsylvania-breds

The Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association has added three stakes for statebreds to its schedule for this year. There will now be 21 Pennsylvania-bred stakes this year, six more than in 2013.

Parx, Penn National, and Presque Isle Downs will each host one of the new stakes. The stakes will each have a purse of $75,000 and offer a 25 percent bonus to Pennsylvania-sired horses finishing in the top three.

The Robellino, a 1 1/16-mile turf race for 3-year-olds and up, will be run at Penn National on Aug. 23. The Mrs. Henry D. Paxson, for 2-year-old fillies at 6 1/2 furlongs, will be held at Presque Isle on Sept. 25. The Plum Pretty, for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles, is scheduled for Oct. 11 at Parx.

“In 2014, there will be approximately $35 million in bonuses, awards, and purses available for Pennsylvania-bred horses, a 16 percent increase over last year,” Brian Sanfratello, president of the PHBA, said in a release.