Golden State Series Preview
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Going into its fourth year, the 2015 Golden State Series will offer a record $5,575,000 in purses. Te 37 stakes will be held at six different tracks, from Golden Gate Fields and Oak Tree Pleasanton in the North through Fresno in the Central Valley, and into Southern California. Santa Anita, Del Mar, and Los Alamitos will all host several Golden State events. “Cal-breds are an integral part of every race meeting in California,” said Doug Burge, president of the California Toroughbred Breeders Association. “Te Golden State Series gives breeders, owners, and trainers an entire year of rich opportunities to point for with their Cal-bred runners.” Te additional money this year has gone into many of the mid-range stakes. Seven have received purse boosts for 2015. Tose increases begin early in the year with the California Cup/Sunshine Millions program at Santa Anita, scheduled for Jan. 24. Te California Cup Sprint and the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint will each be worth $150,000, up from $125,000 in 2014. Te popular Gold Rush program has been moved to May 23, the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, at Santa Anita. It also will have some increased purses. Te Tiznow Stakes and Spring Fever Stakes 40
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t every California horse sale in 2014, trainers commented that they were looking for California-breds because of the purse money available. In large part that is due to the lucrative Golden State Series, a collection of rich stakes throughout the year for Cal-breds and California-sired runners.
Golden Gate Fields is one of six California tracks that will host a Golden State Series event
will go from $125,000 to $150,000, and the Fran’s Valentine Stakes will jump to $125,000 from $100,000. “We are excited to see Gold Rush be part of the Memorial Day holiday weekend,” said Burge. “Santa Anita was so successful last year in taking over many of the spring and summer dates after the closure of Hollywood Park. Te CTBA is pleased to partner with Santa Anita in putting on the Gold Rush program, which has proved so popular with our horsemen.” Te final two races to receive purse enhancements are part of Santa Anita’s fall race meeting. Te California Distaff and California Flag Handicap for turf sprinters down the hillside grass course will be worth $125,000 each, up from $100,000. Two Golden State turf races in Northern California, the Silky Sullivan Stakes for 3-year-olds and the Campanile Stakes
CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED ❙ December 2014 ❙ www.ctba.com
for 3-year-old fillies, will shift from June to April 26. Tat card will also include other Cal-bred overnight races. Te Golden State Series is designed to allow all horses a natural progression in their racing careers. Of the 37 races, 19 are for older runners, 10 are for 3-yearolds, and eight are for 2-year-olds. Te latter begin midyear and culminate in two $200,000 stakes at Los Alamitos in December. Tat segues into the 3-year-old opportunities, such as the California Cup Derby and California Cup Oaks, early the following season. Likewise, the opportunities are divided among turf and dirt runners and across a variety of distances. Ten of the races for older runners are slated for the turf, with four of the 3-year-old races on grass. Te Golden State Series not only provides a year-round schedule for Cal-breds to compete against each other, it has