Laurel stakes to be qualifiers for Santa Anita G1 events

Sharp Azteca won the 2016 City of Laurel Stakes. Photo by Jim McCue, Maryland Jockey Club.

Two of the four stakes on Laurel Park’s Saturday, Nov. 30 program will serve as ‘Win and In’ qualifiers for a pair of Grade 1 races at Santa Anita Park next month, the Maryland Jockey Club announced today.

Winners of the $100,000 Force the Pass City of Laurel for 3-year-olds and $100,000 Imagining Safely Kept for 3-year-old fillies, both at seven furlongs, will earn automatic entry into the $300,000 Malibu (G1) and $300,000 La Brea (G1), respectively, on Wednesday, Dec. 26, opening day of Santa Anita’s winter-spring meet.

Both the Malibu and La Brea are contested at seven furlongs. If the winner of Laurel’s races go in either race, they will be given a $2,500 stipend toward travel costs.

“The Maryland Jockey Club is excited to have this incentive for not only our owners and trainers stabled in Maryland, but also the Mid-Atlantic Region,” said Laurel’s Racing Secretary Chris Merz. “I would like to thank Santa Anita for working with us and making this great incentive possible.”

Laurel will host four $100,000 stakes on Nov. 30. The City of Laurel and Safely Kept will be joined by the Richard W. Small for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles and the Thirty Eight Go Go for fillies and mares 3 and older going about 1 1/16 miles.

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