Harlan’s Holiday Set for Renewal as Graded Stakes Dec. 17
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Set to be renewed as a graded stakes for the first time Dec. 17 at Gulfstream Park, the $100,000 Harlan’s Holiday (G3) attracted 18 nominations, including five from the barn of trainer Todd Pletcher, the 13-time defending Championship Meet titlist.
The 6th running of the 1 1/16-mile stakes for 3-year-olds and up is one of five stakes on a card that will also feature the $100,000 Sugar Swirl (G3) and the $100,000 Rampart (G3).
Pletcher nominated Keen Ice, the 2015 Travers (G1) winner who finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) last time out; Tommy Macho, a multiple-stakes winner who captured the Fred Hooper (G3) during last season’s Championship Meet; Stanford, the $1.250 million Charles Town Classic (G2) winner who finished second in the last season’s Gulfstream Park Handicap (G2); Madefromlucky, a multiple Grade 2 stakes winner; and Neolithic, a late-developing 3-year-old who finished second in the Discovery(G3) last time out.
Pletcher saddled Liam’s Map for a victory in the Harlan’s Holiday during the 2013-2014 Championship Meet before going on to win the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1).
Graded-stakes winners Awesome Slew and Laoban are also on the list of nominees.
The 38th running of the Sugar Swirl, a six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares, has a list of 16 nominees, including multiple graded-stakes winner Stonetastic, who captured the Inside Information (G2) at Gulfstream in March.
The 41st running of the Rampart, a miles stakes for fillies and mares, attracted 17 nominations that includes Grade 1 winner Birdatthewire and graded-stakes winners Engaginglee, Go Maggie Go.
The 5th running of the $100,000 El Prado, a 7 ½-furlong turf race for 3-year-olds and up, and the 12th running of the $100,000 South Beach, a 7 ½-furlong turf race for fillies and mares, drew 18 and 26 nominations, respectively.