Mainstream coverage of three year olds unfortunately tends to wane after the Belmont Stakes. But the second-half of the season provides just as many terrific story lines as the Derby trail. The Triple Crown participants join up with new contenders, who typically are either late-developing or may have missed time due to injury.
It’s important to note that there are two informal divisions of three-year olds. The first is generally a Grade I path through either the Haskell at Monmouth and the Travers at Saratoga and then joining older horses in September and eventually for the Breeders’ Cup Classic. The second involves a number of Grade II, Grade III, or ungraded stakes races, such as the Ohio Derby and West Virginia Derby.
Here are the key races coming up. Note the amazing weekend of July 25-27 with three races, including the G1 Haskell. Check back here for further coverage of the division!
Schedule:
July 19: Ohio Derby, Thistledown Racino, 8.5f, $300k
July 25: Curlin Stakes, Saratoga Race Course, 9f, $100K
July 26: Jim Dandy Stakes, Saratoga Race Course, 9f, Grade II, $600K
July 27: Haskell Invitational, Monmouth Park, 9f, Grade I, $1M
August 2: West Virginia Derby, Mountaineer Race Track, 9f, Grade II, $750K
August 23: Travers Stakes, Saratoga Race Course, 10f, Grade I, $1.25M
September 1: Smarty Jones Stakes, Parx Racing, about 8.5f, $300K
September 6: Super Derby, Louisiana Downs, 9f, $500K
September 20: Pennsylvania Derby, Parx Racing, GII, 9f, $1M
September 28: Oklahoma Derby, Remington Park, September 28, GIII, 9f $400K
October 4: The Indiana Derby, Indiana Downs, October 4, G2, 8.5f, $500K
Image:
Donnie Ray Jones, “Horse Race – Louisiana Downs”, Copyright 2011.
The Three Year Old Division: What’s on Tap?
Seth AbramsMainstream coverage of three year olds unfortunately tends to wane after the Belmont Stakes. But the second-half of the season provides just as many terrific story lines as the Derby trail. The Triple Crown participants join up with new contenders, who typically are either late-developing or may have missed time due to injury.
It’s important to note that there are two informal divisions of three-year olds. The first is generally a Grade I path through either the Haskell at Monmouth and the Travers at Saratoga and then joining older horses in September and eventually for the Breeders’ Cup Classic. The second involves a number of Grade II, Grade III, or ungraded stakes races, such as the Ohio Derby and West Virginia Derby.
Here are the key races coming up. Note the amazing weekend of July 25-27 with three races, including the G1 Haskell. Check back here for further coverage of the division!
Schedule:
July 19: Ohio Derby, Thistledown Racino, 8.5f, $300k
July 25: Curlin Stakes, Saratoga Race Course, 9f, $100K
July 26: Jim Dandy Stakes, Saratoga Race Course, 9f, Grade II, $600K
July 27: Haskell Invitational, Monmouth Park, 9f, Grade I, $1M
August 2: West Virginia Derby, Mountaineer Race Track, 9f, Grade II, $750K
August 23: Travers Stakes, Saratoga Race Course, 10f, Grade I, $1.25M
September 1: Smarty Jones Stakes, Parx Racing, about 8.5f, $300K
September 6: Super Derby, Louisiana Downs, 9f, $500K
September 20: Pennsylvania Derby, Parx Racing, GII, 9f, $1M
September 28: Oklahoma Derby, Remington Park, September 28, GIII, 9f $400K
October 4: The Indiana Derby, Indiana Downs, October 4, G2, 8.5f, $500K
Image:
Donnie Ray Jones, “Horse Race – Louisiana Downs”, Copyright 2011.
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