Led by the $150,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash July 29, an esteemed sprint for 3-year-olds and up, the Maryland Jockey Club is offering 16 stakes worth $1.525 million in purses during Laurel Park's summer meet, which begins this Friday.
The 33-day meet will run Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through Sunday, Aug. 20. Post time will be 12:25 p.m.
The 20-cent Rainbow 6, solved for a Maryland state-record $547,686.94 payout June 3 at Pimlico, spans Races 4-9. The Jackpot Super High Five, which saw its carryover swell to $490,727.68 for Pimlico's June 4 closing day card before a mandatory payout of $4,510.60 on Sunday, returns in Race 6.
Laurel will offer advance wagering Friday on Saturday's full 13-race Belmont Stakes (G1) day program from Belmont Park as well as four two-day double wagers and the two-day Pick 6 wager.
In addition to its own nine-race live program that starts at 12:25 p.m., Laurel will open its doors at 10:45 a.m. Saturday to accommodate Belmont's 11:30 a.m. ET post time. The Belmont Stakes is scheduled to go off at 7:02 p.m. ET.
Launching the summer stakes program is the listed $100,000 Stormy Blues Stakes for 3-year-old fillies sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs on the grass Saturday, June 18. It highlights a Father's Day program featuring a buffet that includes a complimentary Old Fashioned at the door and curated food and beverage menu at a cost of $80 for adults and $40 for youths.
July 1 will have three stakes—the listed $100,000 Concern Stakes for 3-year-olds sprinting seven furlongs and a pair of six-furlong turf sprints, the $100,000 Laurel Dash for 3-year-olds and up, and $75,000 Jameela Stakes for Maryland-bred/sired fillies and mares aged 3 and older.
Three $100,000 stakes are on tap July 15 led by the listed Prince George's County for 3-year-olds and up and Big Dreyfus for fillies and mares 3 and older, each scheduled for 1 1/8 miles on the grass. Fillies and mares aged 3 and up will go one mile in the Caesar's Wish.
The 32nd running of the listed six-furlong De Francis highlights a program of five stakes worth $500,000 in purses July 29. Supporting the De Francis are the $100,000 Deputed Testamony for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles and three other sprints—the $100,000 Alma North for fillies and mares at six furlongs, $75,000 Star de Naskra for 3-year-olds and $75,000 Miss Disco for 3-year-old fillies, each restricted to Maryland-bred/sired horses and contested at seven furlongs.
Aug. 13 will feature the $100,000 Bald Eagle Derby for 3-year-olds going 1 3/16 miles and the $100,000 Searching for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles, both scheduled for the grass.
Laurel's summer stakes schedule is rounded out by a pair of $75,000 events for Maryland-bred/sired horses scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on the turf Aug. 19—the Find for 3-year-olds and up and All Brandy for fillies and mares aged 3 and older.
To view the stakes/nominations schedule, click here.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
