The New York Racing Association has postponed a pair of grade 1 turf races scheduled for the June 7 Belmont Stakes (G1) undercard to June 8 after the Saratoga Race Course turf courses were inundated by rain June 6 and Saturday.
The Jaipur Stakes (G1T), a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint that had been scheduled for the outer Mellon Turf Course, and the Manhattan Stakes (G1T), a 1 3/16-mile test also scheduled for the Mellon, have been postponed a day when weather conditions are expected to be much improved. The Jaipur had been scheduled as race 9 on Saturday's card while the Manhattan had been scheduled as race 12.
The $500,000 Jaipur, a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In race to the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T); and the $1 million Manhattan will be contested as race 12 and 13, respectively, Sunday. The Manhattan will be moved to the inner turf and contested as a 1 1/8-mile race after originally being scheduled as a 1 3/16-mile test on the Mellon, the outer turf.
In postponing the races, NYRA cancelled a number of popular multirace wagers. There will be no Pick 6 on the day's card and the final Pick 5 of the day began with race 3. The final Pick 4 of the day started with the fourth race. The Grand Slam wager also was cancelled.
The inclement weather also prompted NYRA to move all other turf races scheduled for Saturday's card to the main track. Those races include race 3; race 6, the Wonder Again Stakes (G3); race 10, the Pennine Ridge Stakes; and race 14. The Wonder Again is downgraded to grade 3 and the Pennine Ridge is down to listed status pending review by the American Graded Stakes Committee.
