Journalists Wandering Eyes Posted Tuesday at 07:54 PM Journalists Posted Tuesday at 07:54 PM The GII Fantasy Stakes will be worth $1 million when it is run next year at Oaklawn Park, while the purse for the Arkansas track's GIII Honeybee Stakes will be increased for the second consecutive time, from $500,000 to $750,000 in 2026. “The increase to our Fantasy Stakes by itself makes a very strong statement,” Oaklawn's President Louis A. Cella said. “This will be the first time in the history of North American racing that 3-year-old fillies will have an opportunity to run for a seven-figure purse prior to the Kentucky Oaks. When you factor in the Honeybee at $750,000 and Martha Washington at $300,000, it's clear Oaklawn continues to be the nation's best track to condition 3-year-olds.” Oaklawn's series of Kentucky Derby preps opens with the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 3, followed by the $1-million GIII Southwest Stakes Jan. 31, the $1-million GII Rebel Stakes Mar. 1, and the $1.5-million GI Arkansas Derby Mar. 28. Oaklawn will offer a record 62 stakes races during its 64-day 2025/2026 racing season and stakes purses will exceed $18.3 million, more than double the total from the 2019 season. The 2025-2026 Oaklawn season will feature a three-week gap for the first time, with a “Holiday Meet” scheduled for Dec. 12-Jan. 4, with at least one stakes race per day. A four-day schedule will resume Jan. 30-May 2. Six new overnight stakes have been added throughout the season, including “The Coach” Overnight Stakes, honoring Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Oaklawn's first condition book for the 2025/2026 season is available at www.oaklawn.com. The post Fantasy Stakes Worth $1 Million in 2026 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article Quote
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