Laurel Park opening fall schedule Friday

Laurel Park’s 61-day fall meet, which begins Friday, is highlighted by three Saturdays, serving up 18 stakes, two graded, worth $1.8 million in purses, three Mid-Atlantic Championship Series finals and the debut of a $150,000 turf race for 3-year-olds. The meet also will include the debut of a national Pick 5 wager. Ninety-seven horses have been entered on a 10-race program that starts with a 1:10 p.m. first post. Six races have been scheduled for Laurel’s turf course, attracting 68 entries, an average of 11.3 starters per race. The stakes program gets under way Sept. 15 with seven stakes worth $900,000 in purses, highlighted by the 27th running of the $250,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (G3). Overall, a total of 34 stakes worth $3.425 million in purses will be offered including both the $200,000 BaltimoreWashington International Turf Cup (G3) at 1 mile and the inaugural running of the $150,000 Bald Eagle Derby for 3-year-olds at 1½ miles Sept. 29. In addition, the Jim McKay Maryland Million will celebrate its 33rd year Oct. 20 with the debut of Laurel’s Clubhouse Festival, an entertainment experience led by Grammy-nominated electronic dance music producers Deadmau5 and Steve Aoki. For the complete fall stakes schedule, go to Laurelpark.com/ horsemen/fall-stakes-2018.