The GI Runhappy Travers S. Has been moved up to Aug. 8 as one of the headliners of the 2020 Saratoga stakes schedule released Friday morning. Originally slated for Aug. 29, the Midsummer Derby was moved due to the rescheduled GI Kentucky Derby which is now Sept. 5.
The 2020 Saratoga meet will feature 71 stakes worth $14.45 million, encompassing 39 graded stakes and 18 Grade Is from Thursday, July 16 through Monday, Sept. 7.
“We’re thrilled to be racing at Saratoga this summer, and we thank Governor Andrew Cuomo for his support and the support of horsemen who have worked with us to navigate the many challenges,” NYRA President and CEO Dave O’Rourke said. “While this will be anything but a traditional Saratoga season, we hope to provide a semblance of normalcy for both the local community as well as racing fans across the country.”
Under current New York state guidelines, Saratoga Race Course will open on July 16 without spectators in attendance. The 40-day meet will feature at least one stakes race every live racing day, highlighted by the Travers and the GI Whitney Aug. 1.
The Whitney card will also feature the GI Personal Ensign S. and GI H. Allen Jerkens S., as well as the GII Bowling Green S. The Travers undercard will include the GI Ballerina S., GI Test S., GIII Troy S. and GIII Waya S.
The opening day card will feature the GIII Schuylerville S. for juvenile fillies and the GIII Peter Pan S., traditionally held at Belmont Park in May as a local prep for the GI Belmont S. The first Grade I will be the CCA Oaks on Saturday, July 18, and the GII National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame S. is also that day. The following Saturday July 25 will be highlighted by the GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt S. and GII Ballston Spa S.
New to the Saratoga stakes schedule are a pair of New York-bred races for older grass horses with the Lubash set for July 22 and the Dayatthespa for fillies and mares July 29, both offering a purse of $85,000 for the 1 1/16-mile turf tests. The $100,000 Perfect Sting, a 1 1/16-mile turf test for older fillies and mares, moves from Belmont to Aug. 14 at the Spa.
The GI Alabama S. will be held Aug. 15, which is the same day as the $500,000 Saratoga Derby. The female counterpart, the Saratoga Oaks, is Aug. 16. The GI Fourstardave S. is slated for Aug. 22 and the GI Diana S. is the following day.
A pair of stakes for sophomore state-breds originally scheduled at Aqueduct, the NYSSS Times Square and NYSSS Park Avenue, will now be contested at Saratoga Aug. 27 and Sept. 3 respectively, both offering a purse of $100,000 for the 6 1/2-furlong main-track sprints.
The GI Forego S. remains on what was supposed to be Travers day Aug. 29, as does the GI Sword Dancer S. The final Saturday of the meet, Sept. 5, will feature the GI Woodward S., the GII Jim Dandy S. (traditionally a Travers prep run in July), the GII Prioress S. and the GII Glens Falls S.
The GI Spinaway S. headlines the Sept. 6 card, which includes the GII Honorable Miss H., and the GI Runhappy Hopeful S. keeps its traditional spot on Labor Day Sept. 7, which, as always, is closing day of the meet.
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