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NYRA announces stakes schedule for the 2025 Aqueduct spring meet

by Pat McKenna

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced the stakes schedule for the 2025 spring meet at Aqueduct Racetrack, which will feature 13 stakes worth $2.8 million in total purses.

The 15-day spring meet will open on Thursday, April 3 and continue through Sunday, April 27 with live racing conducted Thursday-Sunday.

NYRA has increased the purse of both the Haynesfield and Biogio’s Rose by $25,000. As a result, both races will offer a purse of $125,000.

The spring meet stakes action kicks off with the Wood Memorial Day card on Saturday, April 5, featuring five stakes topped by the 100th running of the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial. The nine-furlong test for 3-year-olds will offer 100-50-25-15-10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-five finishers.

Wood Memorial Day will also feature the Grade 2, $300,000 Carter at seven-furlongs for older horses, as well the Grade 3, $200,000 Gazelle at nine furlongs for sophomore fillies offering 100-50-25-15-10 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points to the top-five finishers. Completing the day’s stakes action are the Grade 3, $175,000 Distaff, a seven-furlong contest for older fillies and mares; and the Listed $150,000 Excelsior for older horses which will now be contested at 1 1/4-miles – one furlong more than last year.

A lucrative weekend extends to Sunday, April 6, with a pair of one-turn mile state-bred stakes in the Haynesfield for older horses and the Biogio’s Rose for older fillies and mares.

Stakes action continues on Saturday, April 12 with the Listed $150,000 Top Flight for older fillies and mares traveling nine furlongs. Sunday, April 13 will be co-headlined by a pair of $200,000 New York Stallion Stakes Series events at 6 1/2-furlongs on the main track – the Times Square for eligible state-sired sophomores and the Park Avenue for eligible state-sired sophomore fillies.

The Listed $150,000 Bay Shore, a seven-furlong sprint for sophomores, will be run on Saturday, April 19.

Closing weekend of the spring meet will offer the return of turf stakes with the $125,000 Woodhaven for sophomores on Saturday, April 26, and the Listed $150,000 Memories of Silver for 3-year-old fillies on Sunday, April 27.

For the complete spring meet stakes schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/stakes-schedu....