LITTLE ROCK — Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs will offer 30 stakes races worth nearly $4.8 million during the 2010 live meeting that begins Jan. 15.
Oaklawn, citing continued strong business involving electronic games of skill, boosted purses for 10 races.
More than half the purse hikes target 3-year-olds.
The Jan. 18 Smarty Jones for 3-year-oldso has been increased from $50,000 to $100,000. The Fantasy, Oaklawn's signature event for 3-year-old fillies, has been increased from $250,000 to $300,000.
Two other races for 3-year-old fillies (Martha Washington and Honeybee) have been increased $25,000, to $75,000 and $125,000, respectively.
"The Martha Washington has been such a key race over the last two years," Oaklawn assistant general manager/racing David Longinotti said, referring to Eight Belles and Rachel Alexandra, the past two winners. "That one was pretty obvious. If you're going to bump that one a little bit, then obviously the Honeybee deserves something and the Fantasy deserves something as well."
The Pippin, a two-turn race for older fillies and mares, was raised from $50,000 to $75,000 and moved back three weeks to Jan. 23, which should mean a better progression toward the $175,000 Azeri Stakes (March 6)and the $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (April 3), Longinotti said.
Oaklawn also raised the Spring Fever, Mountain Valley (3-yearolds), Hot Springs, Prima Donna (3-year-old fillies) and Carousel from $50,000 to $60,000.
Oaklawn eliminated the $50,000 Dixieland, a sprint for 3-year-olds,because it was impacting the onemile Smarty Jones, Longinotti said.
"As we open our season, we think we have more horses already ready to go two turns at stakes-quality distance,"Longinotti said. "The Smarty Jones and the Dixieland have been somewhat competing against other. We think we owe it to our 3-year-old program to increase the Smarty Jones. It's all about 3-year-olds going long - getting ready for the Kentucky Derby."
Oaklawn also will run the Honeybee and $300,000 Rebel Stakes for 3-year-olds the same day (March 13), as well as the Azeri and $150,000 Razorback Handicap for older horses (March 6).
The Honeybee and Azeri have been run a day later than the Rebel and Razorback.
The concept of tracks carding multiple major stakes races on the same day is popular across the country.
Sports, Pages 20 on 08/27/2009