Big fields, purses for opening weekend

Suffolk Downs will kick off what most likely will be its final year of racing when the first of six 2018 cards is run Saturday at the East Boston, Mass., track.

Thirteen races will be run Saturday and 12 more Sunday on the first of three such weekends. Weekend programs also will be held July 7-8 and Aug. 4-5. This is the fourth year that Suffolk has conducted abbreviated meets since being denied a casino gaming license by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission in 2014.

Suffolk was purchased in May 2017 for a reported $155 million by HYM Investment Group, a real-estate company whose officials have said they intend to eventually develop its 161 acres. While regional horsemen are exploring various options for live-racing venues beyond this year, it appears there is little chance for further racing at Suffolk, which was founded in 1935.

In the meantime, purse money from a development fund established in 2011 has translated into some attractive cards. The Saturday opener is led by the $50,000 Isadorable (race 10), a six-furlong race for Massachusetts-bred fillies and mares, but the main attraction to horseplayers will be the big fields resulting from an inflated purse structure.

As examples: race 7, for maiden fillies, sports a $47,500 purse; races 9 and 11, both $25,000 optional claimers, each has a purse of $52,500; race 12 is for $5,000 beaten claimers at six furlongs, and the purse is a whopping $30,000.

Last year, Suffolk ran eight cards under similar conditions. Per-day purses averaged nearly $500,000, and field size averaged 7.9 per horses.

Participation incentives that were inaugurated last year also will be in effect for the six 2018 cards, with trainers getting a $400 bonus for each starter and owners receiving as much as $500, depending on where their horse finishes.

The Isadorable drew a field of six statebreds, with Princess Dream likely to be heavily favored after winning the 2017 edition by 11 1/2 lengths. Joel Sone will be back aboard for owner-breeder Patricia Moseley and trainer Jonathan Buckley.

Ontrack fans will be treated to food trucks, live music, craft beer, and family activities for all six days. For the Saturday opener, the simulcast of the Belmont Stakes is an added attraction.

The Sunday card will have $50,000 Massachusetts-bred stakes as bookends – the African Prince is the first and the Rise Jim is the last – while also sporting sizable fields.

First post daily is 12:55 p.m. Eastern.