Eleven stakes, led by the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash for sprinters 3 and up, worth $1.05 million in purses highlight the summer meet at Laurel Park which opens with a nine-race program Friday.

The 33-day stand will run Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Sunday, Aug. 18, with no Friday racing scheduled Aug. 2, 9 or 16. Post time will be 12:25 p.m.

In a change, Sundays will play a prominent role in the Laurel stakes program. Sunday stakes action will take place June 16, July 14, July 21, and July 28. 

Launching the summer stakes program is the $100,000 Stormy Blues for 3-year-old fillies sprinting 5 ½ furlongs on the grass Sunday, June 16, highlighting a Father’s Day program featuring Bourbon and BBQ and a vintage car show (weather permitting). For more information visit: https://am.ticketmaster.com/marylandjockeyclub/BBQ

Stakes action continues Saturday, June 29 with the $75,000 Star de Naskra for Maryland-bred/sired 3-year-olds sprinting seven furlongs. Sunday, July 14 will have three turf stakes – the listed $100,000 Prince George’s County for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles and a pair of six-furlong sprints for Maryland-bred/sired horses, the $75,000 Jameela for fillies and mares and $75,000 Ben’s Cat.

Sunday, July 21 will feature two stakes, the $100,000 Big Dreyfus for fillies and mares 3 and up going 1 1/8 miles on the grass and $75,000 Miss Disco for Maryland-bred/sired 3-year-old fillies sprinting seven furlongs.

The 33^rd running of the listed $150,000 De Francis sprinting six furlongs headlines a program featuring four stakes worth $450,000 in purses Sunday, July 28. First run in 1990 and named for the late president and chairman of both Laurel and Pimlico, the De Francis’ illustrious roster of winners includes Housebuster – who beat fellow future Hall of Famer Safely Kept in 1991 – and sprint champion counterparts Cherokee Run, Smoke Glacken, Thor’s Echo and Benny the Bull.

Supporting the De Francis to close the summer stakes schedule are the $100,000 Deputed Testamony for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles, $100,000 Alma North for fillies and mares 3 and older at 6 ½ furlongs and $100,000 Concern for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs.

At the conclusion of the Laurel summer meet, racing is scheduled to shift to Timonium for its seven-day race meeting.

To see the Mid-Atlantic stakes schedule, visit our Racing page and click the “Midlantic stakes schedule” tab.

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