OffTrackBetting.com – The 2017 meet at historic Saratoga Race Course will again be highlighted by the Grade 1, $1.2 million Whitney Handicap and the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes, the centerpieces of two of the biggest days in North American racing.
Live thoroughbred racing will return to Saratoga Race Course on Friday, July 21 for its 40-day summer meet. The 2017 meet includes 69 stakes worth a record $18.775 million in purses, and will run from Friday, July 21, through Labor Day, Monday, September 4. After opening weekend, racing will be conducted six days a week, Wednesdays through Mondays.
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The opening weekend features several graded stakes races showcasing some of the best fillies and mares in the country. Opening Day gets underway with gates opening at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 21 and first post time at 1 p.m. The Grade 3, $150,000 Schuylerville Stakes for 2-year-old fillies and the Grade 3, $150,000 Lake George Stakes for 3-year-old turf fillies headline the day.
On Saturday, the focal point is the 80th running of the Grade 1, $500,000 Diana Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on the turf. The Grade 3, $150,000 Sanford, a six-furlong race for 2-year-olds, will also be run on Saturday. Sunday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies caps the star-studded weekend.
The 90th running of the Grade 1, $1.2 million Whitney highlights an amazing day of racing on Saturday, August 5. The 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds and up attracts some of the best older horses in the country. The day also includes the Grade 1, $500,000 Longines Test Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, as well as three other stakes.
Featuring six Grade 1 stakes races and one Grade 2 race, Travers Day on August 26 is one of the most exciting days of racing in North America. The 148th running of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers caps the star-studded day. The “Mid-Summer Derby” annually features some of the best 3-year-olds in the world running 1 1/4 miles, and this year Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming, Preakness winner Cloud Computing and Belmont Stakes champion Tapwrit are all probable competitors.
Also on Travers Day, there are four Breeder’s Cup “Win and You’re In” races: the Grade 1, $1 million Sword Dancer Invitational for 3-year-olds and up on the turf at 1 1/16 miles offering an all-fees-paid berth into the Longines Breeder’s Cup Turf; the Grade 1, $700,000 Personal Ensign for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles for a spot in the Longines Distaff; Grade 1, $500,000 Ketel One Ballerina over seven furlongs for fillies and mares for the Filly & Mare Sprint; and the Grade 1, $600,000 Forego Stakes at seven furlongs for an entry into the Las Vegas Dirt Mile.
The day also features the Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial, formerly known as the King’s Bishop, a seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds, and the Grade 2, $400,000 Woodford Reserve Ballston Spa for fillies and mares over 1 1/16 miles on the turf.
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In 2016, trainer Chad Brown set a Saratoga meet record with 40 wins in securing his first leading trainer title at Saratoga. The previous record of 38 wins was held by 12-time top Saratoga trainer Todd Pletcher, who finished second in 2016’s rankings with 31 wins. The two will likely compete for top honors in the 2017 meet.
The competition for top jockey could once again be a duel of brothers. Jose Ortiz took honors in 2016 with 65 wins, eight more than his brother, 2015 Saratoga leader Irad Ortiz, Jr. with 57 wins. Top riders Joel Rosario and Hall of Famer John Velazquez and 2017 Hall of Fame inductee Javier Castellano are also likely to contend for the title.
Saratoga 2017 Stakes Schedule
The 2017 meet at historic Saratoga Race Course includes 69 stakes worth $18.775 million in purses.
Friday, Jul 21 | Lake George | III | $150,000 | F3YO | Turf | 1 1/16 |
Friday, Jul 21 | Schuylerville | III | $150,000 | F2YO | Dirt | 6 Furlongs |
Saturday, Jul 22 | Diana | I | $500,000 | F&M 3&UP | Turf | 1 1/8 |
Saturday, Jul 22 | Sanford | III | $150,000 | 2YO | Dirt | 6 Furlongs |
Sunday, Jul 23 | Coaching Club American Oaks | I | $300,000 | F3YO | Dirt | 1 1/8 |
Monday, Jul 24 | Caress | $200,000 | F&M 4&UP | Turf | 5 1/2 | |
Wednesday, Jul 26 | Honorable Miss Handicap | II | $200,000 | F&M 3&UP | Dirt | 6 Furlongs |
Thursday, Jul 27 | A. P. Smithwick Memorial (Steeplechase) | I | $150,000 | 4&UP | Turf | 2 1/16 |
Thursday, Jul 27 | John Morrissey (NYB) | $100,000 | 3&UP | Dirt | 6 1/2 Furlongs | |
Friday, Jul 28 | Curlin | $100,000 | 3YO | Dirt | 1 1/8 | |
Saturday, Jul 29 | Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap | I | $350,000 | 3&UP | Dirt | 6 Furlongs |
Saturday, Jul 29 | Amsterdam | II | $200,000 | 3YO | Dirt | 6 1/2 Furlongs |
Saturday, Jul 29 | Bowling Green | II | $250,000 | 4&UP | Turf | 1 3/8 |
Saturday, Jul 29 | Jim Dandy | II | $600,000 | 3YO | Dirt | 1 1/8 |
Sunday, Jul 30 | Shuvee Handicap | III | $200,000 | F&M 3&UP | Dirt | 1 1/8 |
Monday, Jul 31 | Coronation Cup | $100,000 | F3YO | Turf | 5 1/2 | |
Wednesday, Aug 02 | Shine Again | $100,000 | F&M 3&UP | Dirt | 7 Furlongs | |
Thursday, Aug 03 | Birdstone | $100,000 | 3&UP | Dirt | 1 3/4 | |
Friday, Aug 04 | National Museum of Racing Hall Of Fame | II | $200,000 | 3YO | Turf | 1 1/16 |
Saturday, Aug 05 | Fasig-Tipton De La Rose | $100,000 | F&M 4&UP | Turf | 1 Mile | |
Saturday, Aug 05 | Fasig-Tipton Lure | $100,000 | 4&UP | Turf | 1 1/16 | |
Saturday, Aug 05 | Fasig-Tipton Waya | III | $200,000 | F&M 3&UP | Turf | 1 1/2 |
Saturday, Aug 05 | The Longines Test | I | $500,000 | F3YO | Dirt | 7 Furlongs |
Saturday, Aug 05 | Whitney | I | $1,200,000 | 3&UP | Dirt | 1 1/8 |
Sunday, Aug 06 | Alydar | $100,000 | 4&UP | Dirt | 1 1/8 | |
Sunday, Aug 06 | Troy Handicap | $250,000 | 3&UP | Turf | 5 1/2 | |
Monday, Aug 07 | NYSS Cab Calloway Division | $100,000 | 3YO | Turf | 1 Mile | |
Wednesday, Aug 09 | Quick Call | $100,000 | 3YO | Turf | 5 1/2 | |
Thursday, Aug 10 | NYSS Statue of Liberty Division | $100,000 | F3YO | Turf | 1 Mile | |
Friday, Aug 11 | Tale of the Cat | $100,000 | 3&UP | Dirt | 6 Furlongs | |
Saturday, Aug 12 | Adirondack | II | $200,000 | F2YO | Dirt | 6 1/2 Furlongs |
Saturday, Aug 12 | Fourstardave Handicap | I | $500,000 | 3&UP | Turf | 1 Mile |
Sunday, Aug 13 | Saratoga Special presented by Coors Light | II | $200,000 | 2YO | Dirt | 6 1/2 Furlongs |
Monday, Aug 14 | Saratoga Dew (NYB) | $100,000 | F&M 3&UP | Dirt | 1 1/8 | |
Wednesday, Aug 16 | Bolton Landing | $100,000 | F2YO | Turf | 5 1/2 | |
Thursday, Aug 17 | Union Avenue (NYB) | $100,000 | F&M 3&UP | Dirt | 6 1/2 Furlongs | |
Friday, Aug 18 | Skidmore | $100,000 | 2YO | Turf | 5 1/2 | |
Saturday, Aug 19 | Alabama | I | $600,000 | F3YO | Dirt | 1 1/4 |
Saturday, Aug 19 | Lake Placid | II | $300,000 | F3YO | Turf | 1 1/8 |
Sunday, Aug 20 | Summer Colony | $100,000 | F&M 3&UP | Dirt | 1 1/8 | |
Monday, Aug 21 | Evan Shipman (NYB) | $100,000 | 3&UP | Dirt | 1 1/8 | |
Wednesday, Aug 23 | John’s Call | $100,000 | 3&UP | Turf | 1 5/8 | |
Thursday, Aug 24 | New York Turf Writers Cup | I | $150,000 | 4&UP | Turf | 2 3/8 |
Thursday, Aug 24 | Riskaverse | $100,000 | F3YO | Turf | 1 Mile | |
Friday, Aug 25 | Albany (NYB) | $250,000 | 3YO | Dirt | 1 1/8 | |
Friday, Aug 25 | Fleet Indian (NYB) | $200,000 | F3YO | Dirt | 1 1/8 | |
Friday, Aug 25 | Funny Cide (NYB) | $200,000 | 2YO | Dirt | 6 1/2 Furlongs | |
Friday, Aug 25 | Seeking the Ante (NYB) | $200,000 | F2YO | Dirt | 6 1/2 Furlongs | |
Friday, Aug 25 | West Point presented by Trustco Bank | $150,000 | 3&UP | Turf | 1 1/16 | |
Friday, Aug 25 | Yaddo (NYB) | $150,000 | F&M 3&UP | Turf | 1 1/16 | |
Saturday, Aug 26 | Forego | I | $600,000 | 3&UP | Dirt | 7 Furlongs |
Saturday, Aug 26 | H. Allen Jerkens Memorial | I | $500,000 | 3YO | Dirt | 7 Furlongs |
Saturday, Aug 26 | Ketel One Ballerina | I | $500,000 | F&M 3&UP | Dirt | 7 Furlongs |
Saturday, Aug 26 | Personal Ensign | I | $700,000 | F&M 3&UP | Dirt | 1 1/8 |
Saturday, Aug 26 | Sword Dancer | I | $1,000,000 | 3&UP | Turf | 1 1/2 |
Saturday, Aug 26 | Travers | I | $1,250,000 | 3YO | Dirt | 1 1/4 |
Saturday, Aug 26 | Woodford Reserve Ballston Spa | II | $400,000 | F&M 3&UP | Turf | 1 1/16 |
Sunday, Aug 27 | Smart N Fancy | $100,000 | F&M 3&UP | Turf | 5 1/2 Furlongs | |
Monday, Aug 28 | Better Talk Now | $100,000 | 3YO | Turf | 1 Mile | |
Wednesday, Aug 30 | With Anticipation | III | $150,000 | 2YO | Turf | 1 1/16 |
Thursday, Aug 31 | P. G. Johnson | $100,000 | F2YO | Turf | 1 1/16 | |
Friday, Sep 01 | Lucky Coin | $100,000 | 4&UP | Turf | 5 1/2 Furlongs | |
Saturday, Sep 02 | Glens Falls | III | $200,000 | F&M 3&UP | Turf | 1 3/8 |
Saturday, Sep 02 | Saranac | III | $300,000 | 3YO | Turf | 1 1/8 |
Saturday, Sep 02 | Spinaway | I | $350,000 | F2YO | Dirt | 7 Furlongs |
Saturday, Sep 02 | Woodward | I | $750,000 | 3&UP | Dirt | 1 1/8 |
Sunday, Sep 03 | Prioress | II | $250,000 | F3YO | Dirt | 6 Furlongs |
Monday, Sep 04 | Bernard Baruch Handicap | II | $250,000 | 3&UP | Turf | 1 1/16 |
Monday, Sep 04 | Hopeful | I | $350,000 | 2YO | Dirt | 7 Furlongs |