The first series of races in the 2018 Virginia-bred/sired stakes race program being held at Laurel Park are now complete, and updated trainer and owner standings for both bonus award divisions have been announced.
A maiden special weight race and the “Commonwealth Day’ card kicked the series off respectively on June 15th and 23rd. A $40,000 maiden race for fillies & mares was first, followed by a four-pack of $75,000 stakes that were contested on “Commonwealth Day” and included The Edward Evans, White Oak Farm, Tyson Gilpin and Nellie Mae Cox Stakes. Respective winners, along with their trainer and owner were:
Maiden (F/M) – Altamura (John Stephens; Fred Seitz, Danny Ward & John Stephens)
Edward Evans – Sticksstatelydude (Kiaran McLaughlin; A. Haynes, J. Ferris, Pack Pride Racing, M. Haynes & B. Ward)
White Oak Farm – Determined Vision (Phil Schoenthal; D Hatman Thoroughbreds & Kingdom Bloodstock, Inc.)
Tyson Gilpin – Altamura (John Stephens; Fred Seitz, Danny Ward & John Stephens)
Nellie Mae Cox – Armoire (Arnaud Delacour; Mr. & Mrs. Bertram Firestone)
New this year is a $40,000 bonus program, to be divided among top point earning owners and trainers that participate. $20,000 will be earmarked for trainers and $20,000 for owners. Points are tallied in the following manner — 5 for a first place finish, 4 for a second, 3 for a third, 2 for a fourth and 1 for every starter below fourth place. After the 2018 series is complete, the trainer and owner with the most points will each win a $10,000 bonus. $4,000 will be awarded for second, $3,000 for third, $2,000 for fourth and $1,000 for fifth.
Altamura (#6) wins a tight race over a trio of close finishers in the $75,000 Tyson Gilpin Stakes. Photo by Jim McCue.
The next series of races will be held at Laurel the first week in August. A fillies/mares maiden race at one mile is slated for Thursday August 2nd and an open maiden event at the same distance is scheduled Friday August 3rd. Four $75,000 stakes are then on tap Saturday August 4th — the Hansel, William Backer, Meadow Stable and Camptown Stakes. Another maiden race will be held August 10th and another five stakes will close out the series on September 22nd.
Here are top point leaders in the $20,000 Trainers Bonus category:
Susan Cooney – 12
John Stevens – 12
Arnaud Delecour – 10
Phil Schoenthal – 7
Kiaran McLaughlin – 5
Here are top point leaders in the $20,000 Owners Bonus category:
Mr. & Mrs Bertram R. Firestone – 10
Frederick J. Seitz, Danny Ward & John Stevens – 10
Andrew and Beck Lavin – 8
Walter Vieser – 6
D. Hatman Thoroughbreds & Kingdom Bloodstock, Inc – 5
A. Haynes, J. Ferris, Pack Pride Racing, M. Haynes and B. Ward – 5