Adding More 2yo Turf Stakes at US Tracks

Racing
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Would it be possible to add more 2yo Turf Stakes at US tracks? I know there are a few more that exist in real life. It would be nice to be able to ship my babes around the US instead of contemplating how many I can ship abroad and keep healthy. It would be nice if 2yo Turf horses were able to be 2yo Stakes contenders without always going abroad. It would make the 2yo Turf scene more competitive, but also make it so 2YO turf horses wouldn’t have to be aimed at the BC or just sit in allowances for the year.

Some of them in real life are places like Kentucky Downs, but there is no reason we couldn’t just stick them at Churchill for the sake of game play. The Fifth Third Insurance Juvenile Sprint (2yo) Ungr. (maybe we rename it?) is mid-September (6.5F Turf, $500,000) at Kentucky Downs but we could move it. Churchill Downs has several 2yo Dirt races we could add if desired.

Races at Keenland could also be added to the Churchill Downs track. There are several dirt G1s in October, but in terms of turf races we could add: first week in October with Bourbon Stakes (2yo) G2 (8.5F Turf, $200,000) & Jessamine Stakes (2yoF) G2 (8.5F Turf, $150,000), Indian Summer Stakes (2yo) Ungr (5.5F Turf, $150,000).

We could add a couple at Del Mar, which includes the Del Mar Juvenile Turf (7 Sept., 8F Turf, $100,000), the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf (6 Sept., 8F Turf, $75,000). And at the end of November there could be the Jimmy Durante Stakes (2yoF) & Cecil B. DeMille Stakes (2yo) G3’s (8F Turf, $100,000). There are also some differences in purse money from what we have at Del Mar right now.

Woodbine could add the Catch a Glimpse (2yoF) & Soaring Free (2yo) Ungr. in August (6.5F Turf, $100,000); the Natalma Stakes (2yoF) & Summer Stakes (2yo) G1 in mid-September (8F Turf, $250,000); the Bull Page (2yoC) & Victorian Queen (2yoF) Ungr. in late September/early October (7.5F Turf, $100,000); the Cup & Saucer Stakes (2yo) Ungr. in October (10.5F Turf, $250,000); (and they have several dirt races as well that could be nice to see. If nothing else, adding the 2yo G1’s would be wonderful.

Gulfstream could add the Proud Man (2yo) and Sharp Susan Stakes (2yoF) Ungr. at the end of August (7.5F Turf, $100,000). At the end of September it could add the Armed Forces Stakes (2yo) & Our Dear Peggy Stakes (2yoF) Ungr (8F Turf, $75,000) and the Hollywood Beach Stakes (2yo) Ungr (5F Turf, $75,000).

Saratoga could add the With Anticipation Stakes (2yo) G3 (8.5F Turf, $150,000) at the end of August.
All in all, I think adding some (esp. the graded races) of these would be a great boon to the 2yo turf racing. I’d be happy to put together a list and even to add some dirt races in (like the American Pharoah Stakes, the Chandelier Stakes, Pocahontas & Iroquois Stakes) if people were interested.

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I’d be very supportive of this idea. I seem to mostly get solid 2yo turf runners more than 2yo dirt runners, but it usually comes down to Europe or Australia if I want to try a stakes. I took a look, and FF has 34 2yo dirt stakes races and 31 2yo turf stakes races. 26 of the 34 dirt races are in the US, but just 12 out of 31 turf races are in the US–with just 4 of those 12 not being BC/BS. Any turf prospects I have either must be excellent early in Europe, or if they’re late bloomers I just end up leaving them in Oz and skip the BC/BS entirely.

Sort of related, but I’d also love to see more SC stakes races in the fall/winter. It basically dries up after August, and it’s purely BC/BS after mid-October. Also wouldn’t mind seeing more 3yo-only SC stakes races, as there’s just 2 in the game. Happy to research a list of new SC races.

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Oh my gosh I was just thinking this! I have several turf 2yos but all the stakes races are in Australia!

I’ve also made some mental notes of races I usually have trouble finding. I’d love to see more 3yo F races of all grades. I have a bunch of fillies that do better racing with the girls, also 3yo F SC of all grades. I agree with Shelbie about 3yo only SC stakes as well, some of the 3yos just can’t keep up with the older horses, but do well with their own age.

I really have no idea how complicated it is to add more races or diversify the schedule, but I’m willing to put in some research on this if needed!

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My follow up question for Shanthi is - could we add some of the 2YO Turf races for this year?