Few Major Changes in Graded Stakes for 2015

Eight races that carried listed status in 2014 will be upgraded to grade III status in 2015, highlighting a relatively stable review of graded and listed stakes races for the U.S. completed by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.

The committee announced its results Dec. 5 after conducting a grading session two days earlier of 750 unrestricted U.S. stakes races with a purse of at least $75,000. The committee assigned graded status to 463 of those races, which thanks to the eight races moving from listed to grade III, is eight more than last year.

Those eight races receiving grade III status for 2015 are: the American St. Leger at Arlington International Race Course, Edgewood at Churchill Downs, Sweetest Chant at Gulfstream Park, Rood and Riddle Dowager at Keeneland, Bayakoa at Oaklawn Park, Penn Mile at Penn National Race Course, Miss Preakness at Pimlico Race Course, and Fasig-Tipton Waya at Saratoga Race Course.

The 2015 Penn Mile will be the first graded event at Penn National since Mister Modesty captured the Pennsylvania Governor's Cup July 23, 1989. 

"We're incredibly proud of the work everyone has done to make the Penn Mile one of the country's preeminent races for 3-year-old turf horses in such a short time," said Penn National's director of racing Eric Johnston. "To be awarded a grade III after two runnings is a significant accomplishment for our racing program and everyone affiliated with it."

The American Graded Stakes Committee awarded listed status to 171 races. No graded races were upgraded; 15 new listed races were upgraded from non-listed black type status. Twenty-four races that carried listed status in 2014 are no longer eligible for grading.

In other highlights:

—Six races were downgraded from grade II to grade III in 2015: the Jerome and Top Flight Handicap at Aqueduct Racetrack, Delaware Oaks at Delaware Park, Molly Pitcher at Monmouth Park, and Robert L. Lewis and San Juan Capistrano at Santa Anita Park.

—No races were upgraded to grade I status for 2015.

—No races were downgraded from grade I to grade II for 2015.

—No races were upgraded to grade II status for 2015.

—No races were downgraded from grade III to listed status for 2015.

The 15 races upgraded to listed status for 2015: the Affectionately at Aqueduct; Homecoming Classic and Locust Grove at Churchill; Ginger Brew and Harlan's Holiday at Gulfstream; Houston Ladies Classic at Sam Houston Race Park; Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon, Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf, and Kentucky Downs Turf Dash at Kentucky Downs; City of Laurel at Laurel Park; Instant Racing at Oaklawn; Fabulous Strike at Penn National; and American Beauty, Joe Hernandez, and Thunder Road at Santa Anita. 

Three races were downgraded from Listed to non-listed black type status for 2015: the Lady Canterbury at Canterbury Park and West Virginia Legislature Chairman's Cup and West Virginia Senate President's Cup at Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort.  

Races no longer eligible for listed or graded status are included in the tables below.