Large purses and four new stakes events are the highlight of the 2023 Ellis Park Racing & Gaming $3.075 million stakes calendar.

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said that multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire White Abarrio spiked a temperature after shipping up to New York from Florida and will scratch from the April 8 Carter Handicap (G1) at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Under her Whisper Hill Farm banner, Pope purchased the son of Tapit for $1.3 million at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale from the consignment of breeder Antony Beck’s Gainesway, which subsequently bought back in as a partner.

Santa Anita Park’s leading trainer with 30 wins through April 5, Phil D’Amato starts three horses in the $200,000 Charles Whittingham Stakes (G2T) April 8, led by Gold Phoenix, who is favored in pursuit of a second consecutive graded stakes win.

Liberty Island heads the field for the Japanese One Thousand Guineas (G1), the first of the year’s Japanese classics.

Hillside turf course specialist Amy C will look to notch her second graded stakes win of the Classic Meet when she takes on 10 rivals over Santa Anita Park’s unique sprint layout April 8 in the $200,000 Monrovia Stakes (G3T).

Liberty Island heads the field for the Japanese One Thousand Guineas (G1), the first of the year’s Japanese Classics.

The Todd Pletcher-trained Tapit Trice, coming off a late-closing win in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3), drew the rail for the April 8 Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland.

The West Coast’s crop of 3-year-old fillies will get their chance to punch a ticket to the Kentucky Oaks (G1) in the Santa Anita Oaks (G2) April 8 at Santa Anita Park.

Beau Chapman, assistant trainer for Saffie Joseph Jr., shares his thoughts on the 2023 Keeneland Spring Meet as well as its increased purse size.