HIALEAH, FL—FEBRUARY 25, 2015—Closing weekend of the 2014-15 live Quarter Horse season at Hialeah Park, with four days of racing from Friday February 27 through Monday March 2, will see this iconic equine venue present a total of nine guaranteed-money or added-money stakes races on Saturday February 28 and Sunday March 1.

The current session, by all accounts the most successful season of Quarter Horse racing at Hialeah Park in terms of attendance and all-sources mutuel handle, is the 6th season of live Quarter Horse racing dating back to 2009-10.

On Saturday February 28, the nine-race program will include the $25,000-added Miami-Dade County Stakes, the $20,000-added AQHA Maiden Challenge, the $30,000-added Sunshine State Derby (FL), and the $30,000-guaranteed South Florida Quarter Horse Stakes (see related story).

One day later, on Sunday March 1, the $100,000-added South Florida Quarter Horse Derby and the $100,000-guaranteed Sam Abbey Memorial highlight a ten-race card that also includes the $20,000-added Lucky Loser Stakes, the $20,000-added Beautiful Prairie Stakes, and the $40,000-added Sailfish Stakes at a marathon 1,000 yards. (see related story).

The 2015 South Florida Quarter Horse Derby, at the American Quarter Horse classic distance of 440 yards, drew a full field of 10 runners, including Glenn Graff’s Seize The Win, who was saddled by Matt Frazier and ridden to victory by Shanley Jackson in a strong Hialeah Derby score on January 18.

The 2015 Sam Abbey Memorial, also at 440 yards, features a competitive cast of 10 older runners including Jessies First Down, the Ted Abrams-owned and bred gelding who was saddled by Judd Kearl and ridden to victory by Rodrigo Vallejo in the Hialeah Maturity, also on January 18.

With 38 races scheduled to be run over the final four days of the season, Kearl has a three-win lead in the trainer standings (25-22) over Anna Crowson, with Kalah Welch third at 20 wins. Jockey Omar Reyes has what appears to be an insurmountable advantage of 15 wins (44-29) over second-leading rider Vallejo.