Courtesy NYRA
New York Racing Association officials announced in February the stakes race schedule for the 2019 meet at Saratoga Race Course, highlighted by the 150th running of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers and the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney
There will be 76 stakes across the 40 racing days. The season begins July 11. The meet, which features $20.9 million in total stakes purses, will run through Labor Day, Sept. 2.
After opening weekend, racing will be conducted five days a week, except Labor Day.
On Saturday, Aug. 3, the prestigious Whitney, a Breeders’ Cup “win-and-you’re-in” qualifier for the Classic, will pair with the Grade 1, $500,000 Longines Test for 3-year-old fillies.
Whitney weekend kicks off with the second jewel of the Turf Tiara, featuring the inaugural $750,000 Saratoga Oaks on Friday, Aug. 2. The first running of the $1 million Saratoga Derby, second leg of the Turf Trinity, will go on Sunday, Aug. 4. Both races will be carried live on FOX Sports, with the Oaks to air on FS2 and the Derby to be broadcast on FS1.
Whitney Day will also include the Grade 3, $200,000 Troy for 3-year-olds and up, as well as a pair of $100,000 turf routes with the Fasig-Tipton Lure and Fasig-Tipton De La Rose.
The Travers will have its 150th running on Saturday, Aug. 24 as the centerpiece of a card featuring seven stakes, including six Grade 1s. The Mid-Summer Derby for 3-year-olds will come after three Breeders’ Cup qualifiers—the Grade 1, $850,000 Sword Dancer, the Grade 1, $700,000 Personal Ensign and the Grade 1, $500,000 Ketel One Ballerina.
Also on the docket is the Grade 1, $600,000 Forego, a seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and upward, and the Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial presented by Runhappy for 3-year-olds going seven furlongs. Rounding out the card is the Grade 2, $400,000 Ballston Spa for turf fillies and mares.
The traditional local prep for the Travers, the Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy, will be held on Saturday, July 27, and is joined by the Grade 1, $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap for older sprinters, and the Grade 2, $250,000 Bowling Green. Closing out Jim Dandy weekend on Sunday, July 28, is the $200,000 Amsterdam, upgraded to Grade 2 status, for 3-year-olds.
Opening Day will commence with a pair of graded stakes: the Grade 3, $150,000 Schuylerville for 2-year-old fillies and the Grade 3, $100,000 Quick Call for 3-year-olds doing 5 ½ furlongs on the grass.
Saratoga’s first Grade 1 of 2019 will feature the $500,000 Diana for turf fillies and mares on Saturday, July 13. The next Saturday, July 20, will see the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks, with a purse upgraded to $500,000 from $300,000 a year ago, take center stage.
Among the other 18 Grade 1 races at the Spa will be $150,000 A.P. Smithwick Memorial on July 25 and the $150,000 New York Turf Writers Cup on Thursday, Aug. 22 for steeplechasers; the $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap, a Breeders’ Cup qualifier for the Mile, on Saturday, Aug. 10; and the $600,000 Alabama on Saturday, Aug. 17.
The Rockville Centre, previously run at Belmont, has moved to July 17 at Saratoga and will go as the $100,000 Rick Violette, a six-furlong sprint for New York-bred juveniles.
The $100,000 Mahony is a sprint for sophomores slated for Aug. 7.
Also new to the Saratoga stakes schedule is the $100,000 Stillwater, previously held at Belmont as the Lynbrook, set for July 18 and the $100,000 Galway which is slated for Aug. 11.
Additional upgraded races for the Saratoga summer meet include the Grade 3, $100,000 Quick Call marked for July 11; and the Grade 3, $150,000 Forbidden Apple, set for July 12, which moves to Saratoga from Belmont.
Closing weekend of the 2019 Saratoga meet features the Grade 1, $750,000 Woodward on Saturday, Aug. 31, headlining a day that includes the Grade 2, $250,000 Glens Falls; the Grade 2, $250,000 Prioress; and the Grade 3, $200,000 Saranac. On Sunday, Sept. 1, 2-year-old fillies will sprint seven furlongs in the Grade 1, $350,000 Spinaway.
Closing Day will feature the Grade 2, $250,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap; as well as the prestigious Grade 1, $350,000 Runhappy Hopeful for 2-year-olds, concluding the 151st Saratoga meeting.