$7.5 Million in Bonuses for Preakness 149, California Crown and Pegasus
LAUREL, MD – While it is still four months away, the connections of Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Seize the Grey and Dinner Party (G3) winner Balnikhov are excited about the possibility of running for $7.5 million in bonus money come the Sept. 28 California Crown at Santa Anita Park.
1/ST, the innovative brand behind North America’s most prestigious Thoroughbred horse racing, entertainment and wagering events, announced an incentive series the 1/ST Grand 3 earlier this year connecting Preakness 149, California Crown, and Pegasus World Cup.
In addition to their respective purses, MyRacehorse’s Preakness winner Seize the Grey is eligible for a $5 million bonus if he can win the $1 million California Crown (G1) Sept. 28 at Santa Anita and the $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) at Gulfstream Park in January of 2025.
Michael Behrens, founder and CEO of MyRacehorse, said, “I checked in with Coach [trainer D. Wayne Lukas] and we agree that it makes perfect sense to continue along the road of the inaugural 1/ST Grand 3. That $5 million bonus for winning the California Crown this fall at Santa Anita and the Pegasus World Cup in January would be monumental for our ownership group. Seize the Grey is a special horse, and we will continue listening to him as we have been, but 1/ST has made it easy for us to dream big.”
Meanwhile, Dinner Party winner Balnikhov is now eligible for a $2.5 million bonus in addition to the respective purses of the $750,000 California Crown John Henry Turf (G2) at Santa Anita and the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream in January of 2025.
Sol Kumin of Madaket Stable, co-owner of Balnikhov, said; “The incentive to point for the California Crown John Henry Turf in late September at Santa Anita is enormous given the $2.5 million bonus. Obviously, we’ll take one race at a time, but if successful there the end goal would naturally be the Pegasus World Cup Turf in January at Gulfstream Park.
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