By DRF.com
DEL MAR, Calif. (Mar. 30, 2018) — The stakes schedule for the Del Mar summer meeting, July 18 to Sept. 3, comprises 41 races with minimal changes from the 2017 season. The distances and conditions of four 2-year-old stakes are among the most prominent differences.
The conditions of two $100,000 stakes for California-bred 2-year-olds at six furlongs in late August – the I’m Smokin for both sexes and the Generous Portion for fillies – have been changed and are restricted to non-winners of a first-place purse of $50,000. The new condition will eliminate the winners of the first round of stakes for 2-year-old California-breds at the meeting – the Graduation for both sexes and the CTBA Stakes for fillies – run earlier that month.
Track officials are hoping the winners of the Graduation and CTBA stakes will start in open-company stakes for 2-year-olds on turf or the main track at the end of the meeting.
Two Grade 2 stakes for 2-year-olds – the Best Pal for both sexes and the Sorrento for fillies – have been shortened from 6 1/2 furlongs to six furlongs. The races are worth $200,000 each and lead to two Grade 1 races at seven furlongs on Labor Day weekend – the Del Mar Futurity and the Del Mar Debutante.