Gulfstream Park will offer 46 stakes races worth $8,045,000 during its 87-day
meet in 2006. Of those, 31 stakes will carry graded status, including the
track’s signature race, the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) for three-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on April 1.
For the second consecutive year, the stakes agenda is built around four
“Spectacular Saturday” cards, which feature multiple graded stakes events on the
same program. Spectacular Saturday IV, Florida Derby Day, will offer seven
black-type events. The Spectacular Saturday schedule is:
January 7: $125,000 Aventura S., $100,000 Mr. Prospector H. (G3), $100,000
Hal’s Hope H. (G3).
February 4: $500,000 Donn H. (G1), $150,000 Davona Dale S. (G2), $150,000
Hutcheson S. (G2), $150,000 Holy Bull S. (G3), $100,000 Old Hat S. (G3),
$100,000 Suwannee River H. (G3).
March 4: $300,000 Fountain of Youth S. (G2), $300,000 Gulfstream Park H.
(G2), $200,000 Richter Scale Breeders’ Cup Sprint H. (G2), $150,000 Swale S.
(G3), $100,000 The Very One H. (G3), $100,000 Honey Fox H. (G3).
April 1: Florida Derby, $150,000 Orchid H. (G2), $150,000 Pan American H.
(G2), $100,000 Skip Away H. (G3), $100,000 Artax H., $75,000 Lure S., $75,000
Spectacular Bid S.
The fourth annual Sunshine Millions, which pits Florida breds against their
California-bred counterparts in a one-day series of races at Gulfstream Park and
sister track Santa Anita Park, will be held on January 28. Gulfstream will host
the $500,000 Sunshine Millions Distaff, the $500,000 Sunshine Millions Turf, the
$300,000 Sunshine Millions Sprint and the $250,000 Sunshine Millions Oaks.
Other important events include the $250,000 Gulfstream Park Breeders’ Cup H.
(G1) on February 25 and the $150,000 Bonnie Miss S. (G2) and $150,000 Forward
Gal S. (G2) on March 5.
“The Gulfstream stakes schedule offers outstanding opportunities in every
division,” said Scott Savin, Gulfstream president and general manager. “And the
Spectacular Saturday concept guarantees that we’ll have several tremendous event
days during the meet. We’re very excited about the upcoming season.”