Posted: June 3, 2022
By Tom LaMarra
The 2022 Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Championships (MATCH) Series will resume with the second of five legs held over two days in June in Pennsylvania.
Parx Racing on Tuesday, June 14, will host the $100,000 Bensalem Stakes (3-Year-Olds and Up Long–Turf division) and $100,000 Neshaminy Stakes (Filly and Mare Long–Turf division). The evening of Friday, June 17, Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course will offer the $100,000 Chocolatetown Stakes (3-Year-Olds and Up Sprint–Dirt division) and $100,000 Susquehanna Valley Stakes (Filly and Mare Sprint–Dirt division).
Horses must start in at least three MATCH Series stakes in the same division to qualify for a share of bonus money, which this year totals in excess of $400,000. Bonus points are awarded for a fourth and fifth start in a division.
The Neshaminy and Bensalem, both at 1 1/16 miles, each attracted a solid 38 nominations. Deciding Vote, owned by William Pape and trained by Edward Graham, won the first leg of her division at Laurel Park and is nominated to the Neshaminy.
At Penn National, the Chocolatetown has 20 nominations and the Susquehanna Valley 15. Division leader Kaylasaurus–owned by Bush Racing Stable, Liberty House Racing, BlackRidge Stables and William Saufley, and trained by Tim Kreiser–is among the Susquehanna Valley nominees.
Please note entries for the June 14 program at Parx will be taken Wednesday, June 8. Entries for the June 17 card at Penn National will be taken Friday, June 10.
After the June action, the MATCH Series will be Laurel Park on Saturday, July 16, with all four divisions represented on the same program. The fourth leg will be held Tuesday, Aug. 16, at Colonial Downs, with the championship final leg set for Monday, Oct. 3, at Parx.