LAUREL, MD—The Maryland Jockey Club (TMJC) and the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association announced today a $25,000 purse increase for a quartet of stakes races at Laurel Park on June 27.

The Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash, for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs, is now worth $175,000, while the Deputed Testamony Stakes, Alma North Stakes, and Japan Racing Association Turf Cup each offer $125,000 in purses.

The inaugural De Francis Dash drew the nation’s finest sprinters to Pimlico Race Course in the summer of 1990. The field included 1989 Sprint Champion Safely Kept, Glitterman, and Sewickley. But at the wire, it was the Maryland-bred Northern Wolf who set a track record in 1:09.

The Dash moved to Laurel for its second running. The distinguished field included two champions—Safely Kept and Housebuster—along with leading sprinters Clever Trevor and Sunny Blossom. Housebuster captured the winner’s share of the purse by five lengths. He was named the Eclipse Award Sprint Champion for the second consecutive year.

The Dash remained Laurel Park’s signature summer event for the next nine years. During that span, two additional Sprint Champions won it: Cherokee Run (1994) and Smoke Glacken (1997).

Thor’s Echo claimed the 2006 Eclipse Award following a hard-fought, driving victory in the Dash, three weeks after winning the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Churchill Downs.

The following year, Benny the Bull earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 111, rallying from off the pace to win the Dash by 1 ¼ lengths. That victory launched a five-race winning streak that culminated in an Eclipse Award as the 2008 champion male sprinter.

Colts Neck Stables’ Subrogate won last year’s De Francis. He was ridden by jockey Horacio Karamanos and trained by Jorge Duarte Jr.

Named after the last Maryland-bred to win the Preakness Stakes, the Deputed Testamony is for 3-year-olds and upward at 1 1/8 miles. Past winners include Northern Wolf and Preakness runner-up Magic Weisner.

Last year, the Maryland-bred Post Time, trained by Brittany Russell, won the Deputed Testamony Stakes by 3 ½ lengths.

The Alma North Stakes for fillies and mares at 6 ½ furlongs is named for the Maryland-bred champion 3-year-old filly and Horse of the Year in 1971. Alma North was also named Maryland-bred champion older filly in 1972. She won 23 of 78 career starts, earning $513,597 in purse money from 1970-74. Her victories included a Grade 1 triumph in the Matchmaker in 1973.

Last year’s Alma North Stakes was won by St. Benedict’s Prep, ridden by Hall of Famer John Velazquez for trainer Linda Rice.

The Japan Racing Association Turf Cup, run at 1 1/8 miles on turf, highlights the close relationship between TMJC and the Japan Racing Association (JRA).

On March 7, Bill Knauf, President and General Manager of TMJC, was on hand at Nakayama Racecourse to present the winner’s trophy for the Grade 3 Laurel Park Sho Nakayama Himba Stakes. A JRA representative is expected to attend the Japan Racing Association Turf Cup at Laurel Park.

Nominations for the four stakes races close Saturday, June 13.