Santa Anita has canceled racing for the foreseeable future while officials try to determine the cause of an unexpected rash of recent breakdowns. The upcoming weekend was meant to host six stakes races, including five on Saturday, but all will be postponed. The races included the $500,000 Santa Anita Handicap (G1) for older horses and the $500,000 San Felipe Stakes (G2), a Kentucky Derby prep meant to host both Game Winner and Improbable.
The big news means that other tracks will take center stage Saturday, which is a huge day of racing around the country. Aqueduct will run the $300,000 Gotham Stakes (G3) and the $200,000 Tom Fool Handicap (G3) as two of their four stakes races on Saturday. The former is a Kentucky Derby points race expected to feature Instagrand, and the latter is a sprint for older males.
Oaklawn Park will feature two stakes, including the $200,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) for sophomore fillies on the Kentucky Oaks trail. After the huge Fountain of Youth Stakes weekend last week, Gulfstream Park is relatively quiet with only two listed stakes events, but nearby Tampa Bay Downs will host five, including the $400,000 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2), also a Kentucky Derby prep. That’s one of three graded stakes on the card, with the others being the Florida Oaks (G3) and the Hillsborough Stakes (G2). Both of those are on the grass.
Turfway Park used to run their major Kentucky Derby prep, now known as the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3), on the final weekend in March, but the race will be run Saturday. Their big card – the biggest of their meeting – includes that $200,000 race, the $100,000 Bourbonette Oaks, and the $100,000 Kentucky Cup Classic.
The only racetrack in America to run a stakes race on Sunday will be Aqueduct with the $150,000 Heavenly Prize.
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