FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Contact: Andrew Schweigardt 859/276-2291
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association today presented its listing of U.S. Graded Stakes for 2012, the results of its annual grading session conducted November 30 and December 1 in Lexington.
The Committee reviewed 659 unrestricted U.S. stakes races with a purse of at least $75,000, and assigned graded status to 465 of them, nine fewer than were graded in 2011. A total of nine graded races were upgraded, including four new Grade I race and five new Grade II races; four new Grade III races were identified. Eleven races which carried graded status in 2011 are no longer eligible for grading.
Four races were upgraded to Grade I status for 2012: the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, Cotillion S. at Parx Racing and Jenny Wiley S. at Keeneland.
Four races were downgraded from Grade I to Grade II for 2012: the Three Chimneys Hopeful S. and Ruffian Invitational H. at Saratoga, Hollywood Turf Cup S. at Hollywood Park and Pat O’Brien S. at Del Mar.
Five races were upgraded to Grade II status for 2012: the Alysheba S. at Churchill Downs, Charles Town Classic S. at Charles Town, Monmouth S. at Monmouth Park and Pan American S. and Honey Fox S. at Gulfstream Park.
Five races were downgraded from Grade II to Grade III in 2012: the American Derby at Arlington Park, Carry Back S. at Calder Race Course, Swale S. at Gulfstream Park, Providencia S. at Santa Anita Park and Shuvee H. at Belmont. The Colonial Turf Cup S. at Colonial Downs and First Flight H. at Belmont Park were not eligible for grading in 2012.
Four races were upgraded to Grade III status for 2012: the Smarty Jones S., Greenwood Cup S. and Dr. James Penny Memorial H. at Parx Racing and James Marvin S. at Saratoga.
Two races were downgraded from Grade III to Ungraded status for 2012: the Ouija Board Distaff S. at Lone Star Park and Endine S. at Delaware Park. The Bryan Station S. and Perryville S. at Keeneland; Will Rogers S., Round Table H. and Ack Ack H. at Hollywood Park; Golden Gate Fields Turf S. at Golden Gate Fields; El Conejo H. and Tuzla H. at Santa Anita Park; and Nassau County S. at Belmont Park, were not eligible for grading in 2012.
Following is a summary breakdown of all grade levels and a complete list of all upgraded and downgraded U.S. races for the 2012 racing season as well as the complete list of 2012 graded stakes.
2012 Graded Stakes Number % Graded %Eligible Change from 2011
Grade I 112 24.1% -
Grade II 151 32.5% -2
Grade III 202 43.4% -7
All Graded 465 70.6%
Ungraded 194 29.4%
All Eligible Races 659
TOBA American Graded Stakes Committee
Summary of Decisions Made at November 30 and December 1, 2011 Grading Session
RACES UPGRADED FOR 2012:
Two-Year-Old Fillies
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (T) Grade II to Grade I
Three-Year-Old Fillies
Cotillion S. (Parx Racing) Grade II to Grade I
Older Fillies and Mares
Jenny Wiley S. (T) (Keeneland) Grade II to Grade I
Honey Fox S. (T) (Gulfstream Park) Grade III to Grade II
Dr. James Penny Memorial H. (T) (Parx Racing) Ungraded to Grade III
Two-Year-Olds
None
Three-Year-Olds
Smarty Jones S. (Parx Racing) Ungraded to Grade III
Older Horses
Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (T) Grade II to Grade I
Alysheba S. (Churchill Downs) Grade III to Grade II
Charles Town Classic S. (Charles Town) Grade III to Grade II
Monmouth S. (T) (Monmouth Park) Grade III to Grade II
Pan American S. (T) (Gulfstream Park) Grade III to Grade II
Greenwood Cup S. (Parx Racing) Ungraded to Grade III
James Marvin S. (Saratoga) Ungraded to Grade III
RACES DOWNGRADED FOR 2012:
Two-Year-Old Fillies
None
Three-Year-Old Fillies
Providencia S. (T) (Santa Anita Park) Grade II to Grade III
Nassau County S. (Belmont Park) not eligible
Older Fillies and Mares
Ruffian Invitational H. (Saratoga) Grade I to Grade II
Shuvee H. (Belmont Park) Grade II to Grade III
Ouija Board Distaff S. (T) (Lone Star Park) Grade III to Ungraded
Endine S. (Delaware Park) Grade III to Ungraded
First Flight H. (Belmont Park) not eligible
Tuzla H. (T) (Santa Anita Park) not eligible
Two-Year-Olds
Three Chimneys Hopeful S. (Saratoga) Grade I to Grade II
Three-Year-Olds
American Derby (T) (Arlington Park) Grade II to Grade III
Swale S. (Gulfstream Park) Grade II to Grade III
Carry Back S. (Calder Race Cour Grade II to Grade III
Colonial Turf Cup S. (T) (Colonial Downs) not eligible
Will Rogers S. (T) (Hollywood Park) not eligible
Bryan Station S. (T) (Keeneland) not eligible
Perryville S. (Keeneland) not eligible
Older Horses
Hollywood Turf Cup S. (T) (Hollywood Park) Grade I to Grade II
Pat O’Brien S. (Del Mar) Grade I to Grade II
Golden Gate Fields Turf S. (T) (Golden Gate Fields) not eligible
Ack Ack H. (Hollywood Park) not eligible
Round Table H. (T) (Hollywood Park) not eligible
El Conejo H. (Santa Anita Park) not eligible