Graded and Listed Races for 2019 Released

The American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association Nov. 30 released its listing of United States graded and listed stakes races for 2019, the results of its annual grading session conducted Nov. 27-28 in Lexington.

The committee reviewed 807 U.S. stakes races with a purse of at least $75,000 and assigned graded status to 450 of them, five fewer than were graded in 2018, and listed status to 187 races. Seven graded races were upgraded, nine new grade 3 races and one grade 2 race were named, and 23 new listed races were upgraded from non-listed black-type status. Ten races that carried graded or listed status in 2018 are no longer eligible for grading.

Three races were upgraded to grade 1 status for 2019: the Jaipur Invitational Stakes and Woody Stephens Stakes at Belmont Park and the Churchill Downs Stakes at Churchill Downs.

Six races were downgraded from grade 1 to grade 2 for 2019: the Beldame Stakes at Belmont; Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill; Los Alamitos CashCall Futurity at Los Alamitos Race Course; and the Santa Margarita Stakes, Triple Bend Stakes, and Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita Park.

Five races were upgraded to grade 2 status for 2019: the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint; Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes at Churchill; Gallant Bob Stakes at Parx Racing; Eddie D Stakes at Santa Anita; and Amsterdam Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.

Six races were downgraded from grade 2 to grade 3 in 2019: the Chilukki Stakes at Churchill; Barbara Fritchie Stakes at Laurel Park; Bayakoa Stakes at Los Alamitos; and the Honeymoon Stakes, La Canada Stakes, and Santa Ana Stakes at Santa Anita.

Nine races were upgraded to grade 3 status for 2019: the Forbidden Apple Stakes and Futurity Stakes at Belmont; Green Flash Handicap at Del Mar; Franklin-Simpson Stakes at Kentucky Downs; Chick Lang Stakes at Pimlico Race Course; Astra Stakes, Joe Hernandez Stakes, and Sweet Life Stakes at Santa Anita; and the Quick Call Stakes at Saratoga.

Eleven races were downgraded from grade 3 to listed status for 2019: the Tempted Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack; Arlington Classic Stakes at Arlington International Racecourse; Aristides Stakes at Churchill; Groupie Doll Stakes at Ellis Park; Dania Beach Stakes, My Charmer Stakes, and Skip Away Stakes at Gulfstream Park; Commonwealth Oaks at Laurel; Lone Star Park Handicap at Lone Star Park; Violet Stakes at Monmouth Park; and Bourbonette Oaks at Turfway Park.

Sixteen races were upgraded to listed status for 2019: the Danger's Hour Stakes, Queens County Stakes, and Stymie Stakes at Aqueduct; the Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational Stakes, Christiecat Stakes, Pumpkin Pie Stakes, and River Memories Stakes at Belmont; the William Walker Stakes at Churchill; the Buddy Diliberto Memorial Stakes and Woodchopper Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots; the Dave's Friend Stakes and Henry S. Clark Stakes at Laurel; the Beverly J. Lewis Stakes at Los Alamitos; the Steel Valley Sprint Stakes at Mahoning Valley Race Course; the Black Pearl Stakes at Santa Anita; and the Challenger Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

Seven races were upgraded to listed restricted status for 2019: the Osunitas Stakes and Wickerr Stakes at Del Mar; Old Friends Stakes at Kentucky Downs; and the Alydar Stakes, Curlin Stakes, John's Call Stakes, and Riskaverse Stakes at Saratoga.

Ten races were downgraded from listed to non-listed black-type status for 2019: the Treasure Chest Stakes at Delta Downs; Any Limit Stakes at Gulfstream; Wide Country Stakes at Laurel; Long Branch Stakes, Boiling Springs Stakes, and Sapling Stakes at Monmouth; the West Virginia House of Delegates Speaker's Cup Stakes at Mountaineer Park; the Tom Ridge Stakes at Presque Isle Downs; the Clever Trevor Stakes at Remington Park; and the Lady Jacqueline Stakes at Thistledown.

The Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes, Delta Princess Stakes, and My Trusty Cat Stakes at Delta Downs; the El Prado Stakes and Spectacular Bid Stakes at Gulfstream; the Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap and Illinois Derby at Hawthorne Racecourse; the Majestic Light Stakes at Monmouth; the PTHA President's Cup Stakes at Parx; and the Precisionist Stakes at Santa Anita were not eligible for grading in 2019.

For 2019, the Committee has created a new division for 3-year-olds and up turf sprints that includes races for both sexes. Previously, dirt and turf sprints were combined into one division for each sex. Turf sprints restricted to 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds remain combined with the respective dirt sprints.

For a summary breakdown of all grade levels and a complete list of all upgraded and downgraded U.S. races for the 2019 racing season, as well as the complete list of 2019 graded and listed stakes, visit toba.org.