Oaklawn Park's 2019 stakes schedule features 3-year-old stakes racing on opening and closing days -- and Derby Day observances in April and May.
The $8.8-million stakes program includes two million-dollar Kentucky Derby prep races and a six-figure consolation prize for horses not able to run for the roses at Churchill Downs.
Oaklawn's stakes program announced Wednesday, reflects changes on the 57-day 2019 schedule released in April. For the first time since 1945, Oaklawn will conduct races after its traditional spring closing, though the season highlight remains the Grade 1 $1 million Arkansas Derby April 13.
Oaklawn's three Arkansas Derby prep races remain intact, but with a scheduling change and the Grade 2 Rebel purse bumped to $1 million for its March 16 renewal. Oaklawn's nationally prominent 3-year-old series opens with the $150,000 Smarty Jones, moved to the Friday, Jan. 25, first-day card, and follows with the Grade 3 $500,000 Southwest Monday, Feb. 18.
"The Rebel Stakes has become a significant prep in its own right and warrants a $1 million purse with [past] runners like Smarty Jones, Lookin At Lucky, Curlin, Oxbow, Will Take Charge, American Pharoah and Creator," track president Louis Cella said in a press release. "We're extremely proud to offer the richest and most proven path to the Triple Crown."
All four stakes for 3-year-olds carry qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby. Three-year-olds that fall short of competing at Churchill Downs may find the inaugural $250,000 Oaklawn Invitational May 4 appealing. The Oaklawn Invitational, a mile and an eighth like the Arkansas Derby, coincides with Kentucky Derby 145 in Louisville.
"Our hope is that it will attract horses that maybe finished third or fourth in the Arkansas Derby and some of the other preps around the country that still have Triple Crown aspirations, that it would be used as a way to get to the Preakness or Belmont," said Jennifer Hoyt, Oaklawn's media relations director.
Also new to the stakes schedule are the $200,000 Oaklawn Mile for 4-year-olds and up May 3 and the $200,000 Arkansas Breeders Championship, a 1 1/16-mile race May 4 for state-bred 3-year-olds and up.
Arkansas Derby weekend at Oaklawn includes a second Grade 1 race with the $700,000 Apple Blossom Handicap, for older fillies and mares, slated Sunday, April 14.
The annual Racing Festival of the South begins April 12 with the Grade 3 Fantasy, for 3-year-old fillies, increased from $400,000 to $500,000. Supporting features on the Arkansas Derby card are the Grade 2 $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap and the Grade 3 $400,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap.
The Presidents Day schedule Feb. 18 includes a slight tweak with the Grade 3 $200,000 Bayakoa joining the Southwest and the Grade 3 $500,000 Razorback Handicap. The Bayakoa sets the stage for the Grade 2 $350,000 Azeri, an Apple Blossom prep that will be run on March 16 along with the Rebel and the $300,000 Essex Handicap.
Late-season changes include the Rainbow and Rainbow Miss, a pair of $100,000 stakes for Arkansas-bred 3-year-olds (the latter for fillies), moved to Saturday, April 20. In addition, the $150,000 Bachelor, for 3-year-old sprinters, has been switched to Saturday, April 27.
"We couldn't be more excited about our new stakes and racing schedule," Cella said. "We are now able to present more of our best racing during the best time of the year weather-wise in Arkansas. While the Racing Festival of the South will remain the focal point of the season, we look forward to growing the new stakes races and providing our fans with world-class racing into May."
Sports on 07/19/2018