TurfPublicists: GRADE 1 WOOD HIGHLIGHTS BIG A SPRING STAKES SCHEDULE

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Contact: Jenny Kellner

GRADE 1 WOOD HIGHLIGHTS BIG A SPRING STAKES SCHEDULE

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced the stakes schedule for Aqueduct Racetrack’s 2011 winter/spring meet, with the Grade 1, $750,000 Wood Memorial on April 9 the centerpiece of 11 graded stakes worth $2.35 million for the 80-day meet which begins on January 1.

The remainder of the 2011 NYRA stakes schedule will be announced at a later date.

Returning to the Big A’s stakes schedule in 2011 are the Grade 2, $150,000 Tom Fool Handicap for 3-year-olds and up going six furlongs, which will be run on Gotham Stakes day, Saturday, March 5, and the Grade 2, $150,000 Jerome for 3-year-olds going a mile, which will be run on Saturday, April 23.

The Tom Fool was run at Aqueduct in 1975 and 1976 while the Jerome was run at Aqueduct in 1960 and 1962-67. Both races had been held at Belmont Park the last number of years.

Rotating off the 2011 Aqueduct winter/spring stakes calendar are the Grade 3, $150,000 Withers, which is being alternated with the Jerome, and the $65,000 Paumonok.

Replacing the spot the Paumonok had occupied on the calendar is the Grade 3 Toboggan, which in previous years had been run on the Gotham undercard. The Toboggan, which has a purse of $100,000, will be run on Saturday, January 22, giving the Big A an earlier-than-usual start on the graded stakes season.

The Tom Fool also had its purse increased, to $150,000 from $100,000.

The changes give Aqueduct’s winter/spring meet one more graded stakes than last year, a total of two Grade 1’s, three Grade 2’s, and six Grade 3’s. Last year, the stakes schedule included two Grade 1’s, one Grade 2 and seven Grade 3’s.

The Big A also will offer 18 listed and New York-bred stakes worth $1.24 million, beginning New Year’s weekend with the $65,000 Interborough for fillies and mares going six furlongs and the $65,000 Count Fleet for 3-year-olds at 1 mile, 70 yards on Saturday, January 1, and the $65,000 Ruthless for 3-year-old fillies going six furlongs on Sunday, January 2.

The Big A’s Triple Crown test, the 87^th running of the 1 1/8 mile Wood Memorial, highlights a main track card on April 9 that includes the Grade 1, $250,000 Carter at seven furlongs, the Grade 3, $200,000 Bay Shore for 3-year-olds going seven furlongs, and the Grade 3, $150,000 Comely for 3-year-old filly milers.

The Aqueduct winter/spring stakes schedule, which was approved by the NYRA Board of Directors, now awaits approval from the New York State Racing and Wagering Board.

AQUEDUCT WINTER/SPRING MEET

80 days, January 1 - April 23

Dark Mondays and Tuesdays except:

Open: Monday, January 17 and Monday, February 21;

Dark: Wednesday, January 19; Wednesday, February 23; Sunday April 17.

Post Times: 12:30 p.m. daily January 1- February 27

1 p.m. daily March 2 - April 23

2011 AQUEDUCT WINTER/SPRING STAKES SCHEDULE

DATE	RACE	GRADE	PURSE	AGE	DISTANCE
Sat., Jan 1	Interborough		65,000	F&M 3&UP	6 Furlongs
Sat., Jan 1	Count Fleet		65,000	3 YO	1 Mile 70 Yds
Sun., Jan 2	Ruthless		65,000	F 3YO	6 Furlongs
Sat., Jan. 8	Busanda		65,000	F 3YO	1 Mile 70 Yds
Sat., Jan. 15	Evening Attire		65,000	3 & UP	1 1/16
Sun., Jan. 16	Affectionately		65,000	F&M 3&UP	1 1/16
Mon., Jan. 17	Jimmy Winkfield		65,000	3 YO	6 Furlongs
Sat., Jan. 22	Toboggan	III	100,000	3 & UP	6 Furlongs
Sat., Jan. 29	Correction		65,000	F&M 3&UP	6 Furlongs
Sat., Feb. 5	Whirlaway		100,000	3 YO	1 1/16
Sat., Feb. 12	Dearly Precious		65,000	F 3YO	6 Furlongs
Sat., Feb. 19	Busher		65,000	F 3YO	1 1/16
Sun., Feb. 20	Rare Treat		65,000	F&M 3&UP	1 1/8
Mon., Feb. 21	Hollie Hughes (NYB)		65,000	3 & UP	6 Furlongs
Sat., Feb. 26	Stymie		65,000	3 & UP	1 1/8
Sat., Mar. 5	Broadway (NYB)		65,000	F&M 3&UP	6 Furlongs
Sat., Mar. 5	Tom Fool Hdcp.	II	150,000	3 & UP	6 Furlongs
Sat., Mar. 5	Gotham	III	250,000	3YO	1 1/16
Sat., Mar. 5	Fred “Cappy” Capossela		65,000	3 YO	6 Furlongs
Sat., Mar. 12	Kings Point (NYB)		65,000	3 & UP	1 1/8
Sat., Mar. 19	Cicada	III	100,000	F 3YO	6 Furlongs
Sat., Mar. 26	Ladies Hdcp		100,000	F&M 3&UP	1 1/8
Sat., Apr. 2	Excelsior	III	100,000	3 & UP	1 1/8
Sat., Apr. 9	Wood Memorial	I	750,000	3YO	1 1/8
Sat., Apr. 9	Carter Hdcp.	I	250,000	3&UP	7 Furlongs
Sat., Apr. 9	Bay Shore	III	200,000	3YO	7 Furlongs
Sat., Apr. 9	Comely	III	150,000	F 3YO	1 Mile
Sat., Apr. 16	Distaff (Hdcp)	II	150,000	F&M 3&UP	7 Furlongs
Sat., Apr. 23	Jerome	II	150,000	3YO	1 Mile

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