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MATCH Series Set For Return

The Mid-Atlantic Championships Series (MATCH) returns May 14-15 at Pimlico Race Course after a one-year hiatus. This year's MATCH Series, to be run at racetracks in Maryland and Virginia only, will extend through Dec. 26, 2021. It will offer 24 stakes valued at $2.75 million and $282,000 in bonus money for owners and trainers.

The first four stakes in the Series will be held Preakness weekend: GIII Allaie DuPont S., GIII Pimlico Special S., GIII Maryland Sprint H. and Skipat S.

Please note that nominations for all the MATCH Series events at Pimlico close Tuesday, May 4. Horses are nominated to each Series stakes; there is no overall nomination process for the Series.

Owners and trainers will compete for $63,000 in divisional bonuses and the overall MATCH Series champion will net $30,000 in bonuses for its owner and trainer. In addition, the Maryland Horse Breeders Association will pay a $3,000 bonus to the breeder of the top points-earning Maryland-bred and $3,000 for the top points-earning Maryland-sired horse. If the top points-earner is both Maryland-bred and -sired, the breeder would get $6,000.

The complete schedule is available here.

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All Gulfstream Stakes Races To Be Held Without Lasix In 2021

1/ST RACING announced Friday that 2021 stakes races run at the company's premier Florida racetrack Gulfstream Park will be carded Lasix-free effective Jan. 1.

The move to medication-free racing reflects the commitment made in April 2019 by 1/ST, along with other major racing organizations and associations, to eliminate Lasix in all stakes races in 2021 and is consistent with the International Federation of Horse Racing Authorities (IFHA) standards.

Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach will be the first racetrack in Florida to move to medication-free racing. The medication-free format for stakes races will apply to the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) and the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) set to take place on Jan. 23, as well as to the beloved Florida Derby (G1) and Fountain of Youth (G2), held annually at Gulfstream Park.

In 2020, the administration of race day Lasix was also banned for 2-year-old horses entered at any of 1/ST RACING's racetracks, including at California's Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields and at Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course in Maryland.

1/ST has been at the forefront of industry-leading efforts to prioritize the health and safety of horses and riders and is committed to the care of Thoroughbreds before, during and after their racing careers.

The post All Gulfstream Stakes Races To Be Held Without Lasix In 2021 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Weekend Lineup: Cigar Mile Featured At Aqueduct

The 32nd running of the Grade 1 Cigar Mile is the headliner of Saturday's card at Aqueduct which includes a pair of Grade 2, $150,000 nine-furlong events for juveniles in the Remsen and its filly counterpart, the Demoiselle which will offer 10-4-2-1 qualifying points to the top-four finishers towards the 2021 Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, respectively.

Live coverage of Cigar Mile Day will be available with America's Day at the Races on FS2 from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. ET.

Saturday, Dec. 5

1:00 p.m.—$150,000 Grade 2 Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct on TVG

Already a winner at the nine-furlong distance, Known Agenda will attempt to give trainer Todd Pletcher a third Remsen triumph when heads up the five-horse field. Owned and bred by Vincent Viola's St. Elias Stable, Known Agenda rose to the occasion at second asking, breaking his maiden on Nov. 8 at Aqueduct over a fast main track. The chestnut son of Curlin and second offspring out of Grade 1-winner Byrama finished second to eventual stakes-winner Highly Motivated in his career debut on Sept. 27, going 6 ½ furlongs at Belmont Park.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/AQU120520USA4-EQB.html

2:07 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Go for Wand Handicap at Aqueduct on TVG

Teresa Viola Racing Stables and St. Elias Stable's Nonna Madeline cuts back to one mile for the Go for Wand Handicap. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Nonna Madeline boasts a consistent record of 13-4-3-2 with purse earnings of $275,128. The 4-year-old Candy Ride (ARG) bay, bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm, broke through in stakes company this summer when capturing the restricted Summer Colony at nine furlongs on the Saratoga Race Course main track.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/AQU120520USA6-EQB.html

3:44 p.m.—$150,000 Grade 2 Demoiselle Stakes at Aqueduct on FS2

Shadwell Stable's Malathaat, undefeated in two starts for trainer Todd Pletcher, will look to make the grade in Saturday's Demoiselle. Out of the Pletcher-trained Dreaming of Julia, who captured the 2012 Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont Park, Malathaat boasts a golden pedigree that saw the filly purchased for $1.05 million at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The precocious bay drew off to a 1 3/4-length score when sprinting seven furlongs in her Oct. 9 debut at Belmont Park and followed last out with a 7 3/4-length win in the Tempted at one mile.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/AQU120520USA9-EQB.html

4:13 p.m.—$250,000 Grade 1 Cigar Mile Handicap at Aqueduct on FS2

Performer has checked a lot of boxes while forging a five-race winning streak. Owned by Phipps Stable and Claiborne Farm, the 4-year-old son of Speightstown will face Grade 1 competition for the first time as part of a competitive nine-horse field in the Cigar Mile Handicap. Performer went 4-for-4 as a sophomore in 2019, including a victory in the Grade 3 Discovery going 1 1/8 miles last November at Aqueduct. Off an 11-month layoff, Performer picked up where he left off, registering a 1 3/4-length win over optional claimers in a one-turn mile on Oct. 17 at Belmont Park.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/AQU120520USA10-EQB.html

5:28 p.m.—$300,000 Grade 1 Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos on TVG

Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella will seek his first win in the $300,000 Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos when he sends out the undefeated Astute in the final Grade 1 of 2020 for 2-year-old fillies. Owned by LNJ Foxwoods, Astute, a daughter of Speightstown and the Langfuhr mare Discerning, went gate-to-wire in her Oct. 12 debut on turf, then moved to dirt and stretched out an extra eighth of a mile to win the 6 ½ furlong Desi Arnaz Stakes by 7 ½ lengths Nov. 14 at Del Mar.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/LRC120520USA5-EQB.html

Sunday, Dec. 6

5:30 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Bayakoa Stakes at Los Alamitos on TVG

Having finished in a dead-heat for the win in the Tranquility Lake Stakes on August 28, Proud Emma and Message meet again in the Bayakoa Stakes going 1 1/16-miles. Trained by Bob Baffert, Message will be making her first start since that dead-heat triumph while Proud Emma enters off a seventh-place run in the Kathryn Crosby Stakes at Del Mar on Oct. 31.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/LRC120620USA5-EQB.html

The post Weekend Lineup: Cigar Mile Featured At Aqueduct appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Weekend Lineup: Five Graded Stakes On Tap At Woodbine

Throughout the year, the NTRA will provide a guide to the best stakes races in North America and beyond. Races are listed in chronological order (all times Eastern). Full previews when available can be found through the link for each race.

Woodbine plays host to five graded stakes this weekend highlighted by Canadian Triple Crown standouts Mighty Heart and Belichick meeting again in the $125,000 Ontario Derby Stakes.

Racing from Aqueduct and Churchill Downs is televised on “America's Day at the Races.” The NYRA-produced show runs through Sunday this week on FS1 and FS2.

Racing from Del Mar and other tracks will be shown on TVG as part of its coast-to-coast coverage.

Saturday November 21

3:45 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Red Smith Handicap at Aqueduct on FS2

Woodslane Farm's Sadler's Joy will face fellow 7-year-old Grade 1 winner Aquaphobia in pursuit of a second straight triumph in the 60th running of the Red Smith Handicap going 1 3/8 miles over the inner turf. Trained by Tom Albertrani, Sadler's Joy has amassed the highest amount of lifetime earnings in the field with $2,648,160 through a record of 33-7-4-11 consisting of four graded stakes triumphs. The veteran son of Kitten's Joy notched graded wins during his 4, 5 and 6-year-old campaigns. In addition to last year's Red Smith, Sadler's Joy boasts triumphs in the G1 Sword Dancer Invitational in August 2017 at Saratoga and Gulfstream Park's G2 Pan American in April 2017 and the G2 Mac Diarmida in March 2018.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/AQU112120USA9-EQB.html

4 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Native Diver Stakes at Del Mar on TVG

C R K Stable's Midcourt, the defending champion in Saturday's $100,000 Native Diver Stakes, looms as the one to catch and the one to beat in the 42nd edition of the nine-panel headliner. Midcourt, a gelded 5-year-old by Midnight Lute, has won five of his 14 starts, including his five and three-quarter length triumph in last year's Native Diver. The John Shirreffs-trained runner – a winner of $546,695 in purses — has been handled by Victor Espinoza in most of his career starts and will have the Hall of Fame rider in the tack again Saturday.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/DMR112120USA2-EQB.html

4:58 p.m.—$125,000 Grade 3 Ontario Derby at Woodbine on TVG

Queen's Plate and Prince of Wales Stakes winner Mighty Heart will meet up with stablemate and Breeders' Stakes victor Belichick in the Ontario Derby, set for 1 1/8 miles on the Woodbine Tapeta. After Mighty Heart took the first two legs of the Canadian Triple Crown series, Belichick turned the tables on the bay colt in the 1 ½-mile Breeders' Stakes on Oct. 24, putting an end to Mighty Heart's quest to become the country's first horse to sweep all three races since Wando achieved the feat in 2003. The Ontario Derby, for 3-year-olds, will mark the first race for both since the Breeders'.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/WO112120CAN8-EQB.html

5:06 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Chilukki Stakes at Churchill Downs on FS2

Multiple graded stakes winner Finite tops the 35th running of the Chilukki Stakes run at one mile. Finite, a 3-year-old filly by Munnings, was the narrow runner-up finisher behind Venetian Harbor in last month's G2 Raven Run at Keeneland. Previously, the Steve Asmussen-trained Finite was on the Kentucky Oaks trail after victories in the G2 Golden Rod and G2 Rachel Alexandra Stakes. Following her fourth-place effort in the G2 Fair Grounds Oaks, Finite underwent minor ankle surgery but returned to Asmussen's stable a few months later.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CD112120USA9-EQB.html

5:28 p.m.—$175,000 Grade 2 Kennedy Road Stakes at Woodbine on TVG

Multiple stakes winner and 2017 Canadian Horse of the Year, Pink Lloyd, looks to add to his black-type bonanza with a win in the Kennedy Road Stakes. Pink Lloyd will seek to top the Kennedy Road charts for the third time, having won the event in 2017 and 2019. Trained by Robert Tiller for Entourage Stable, the 8-year-old gelded son of Old Forester is unbeaten in four starts – all stakes – this year. His latest tour de force was a victory in the Gr3 Vigil Stakes on Sept. 5, an effort that pushed Pink Lloyd's career earnings over $2 million (CDN). It was also his fourth straight Vigil Crown.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/WO112120CAN9-EQB.html

5:58 p.m.—$175,000 Grade 2 Bessarabian Stakes at Woodbine on TVG

The $175,000 Bessarabian Stakes for fillies and mares contested at seven furlongs on the Tapeta features defending race winner Amalfi Coast. The chestnut filly won last year's edition of the race to earn her first graded stakes score and enters off a victory last time out in the Oct. 23 Sweet Briar Too Stakes.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/WO112120CAN10-EQB.html

Sunday November 22

5:58 p.m.—$125,000 Grade 3 Grey Stakes at Woodbine on TVG

Nine 2-year-olds, including impressive first-time winner Haddassah, are set to contest Sunday's Grey Stakes. Haddassah, a bay son of Air Force Blue, didn't fly under the radar in his curtain-raising effort on Nov. 1. Trained by Kevin Attard, the Ontario-bred went off as the 9-5 choice in the 1 mile and 70-yard main track maiden special weight event, a race that was originally scheduled for the turf.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/WO112220CAN10-EQB.html

6:28 p.m.—$125,000 Grade 3 Mazarine Stakes at Woodbine on TVG

Mark Casse, who has seven Mazarine titles, has two opportunities to add to that impressive total, Sunday. The 1 1/16-mile Mazarine has attracted a field of seven 2-year-old fillies, including Casse charges Souper Sensational and Sleek Lynx. Owned by Live Oak Plantation, Souper Sensational has lived up to her name over two starts, including a fantastic four-length display in the Glorious Song Stakes on Oct. 17 at Woodbine. Sent on her way as the 3-5 choice, the chestnut daughter of Curlin widened her advantage down the lane, going on for the easy score in a time of 1:21.84 over seven furlongs on the Woodbine Tapeta.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/WO112220CAN11-EQB.html

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