Summit of Speed back on stakes schedule
March 4, 2015HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Gulfstream Park will offer 29 stakes worth $4.7 million during the 2015 spring-summer session, highlighted by the seven-stakes Summit of Speed card and the Florida Sire Stakes series, which includes an inaugural program for 3-year-old Florida-breds.
The Summit of Speed, a mainstay at Calder Race Course since 2000, took a one-year hiatus last season but will return July 5 with four graded stakes topped by the Grade 2 Princess Rooney Handicap and the Grade 2 Smile Sprint. Both the Princess Rooney and Smile Sprint are Win and You’re In races in the Breeders’ Cup Challenge. Purses for the 2-year-old Florida Sire Stakes have been raised to a record $2 million, and the series begins Aug. 8 with the $200,000 Dr. Fager and $200,000 Desert Vixen stakes.
The series continues with the $300,000 Affirmed and $300,000 Susan’s Girl on Sept. 5 and concludes with the $500,000 In Reality and $500,000 My Dear Girl on Oct. 3. “We believe this is our strongest and most balanced summer stakes schedule yet,” said P.J. Campo, Gulfstream general manager. “After consulting with horsemen and breeders, we believe this stakes schedule continues rebuilding summer racing in Florida. With nearly $5 million in purses and 29 stakes, we’re looking forward to a tremendous summer season at Gulfstream Park.”