TOBA releases 2015 Graded Stakes decisions

[Kasept]

TOBA Announces U.S. Graded and Listed Stakes for 2015

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association today presented its listing of U.S. Graded and Listed Stakes Races for 2015, the results of its annual grading session conducted December 3 in Lexington.

The Committee reviewed 750 unrestricted U.S. stakes races with a purse of at least $75,000, and assigned Graded status to 463 of them, eight more than were graded in 2014, and Listed status to 171 races. No Graded races were upgraded; eight new Grade III races were named; 15 new Listed races were upgraded from Non-Listed Black Type status. Twenty-four races which carried Listed status in 2014 are no longer eligible for grading.

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.

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

Eight races were upgraded to Grade III status for 2015: the American St. Leger S. at Arlington Park, Edgewood S. at Churchill Downs, Sweetest Chant S. at Gulfstream Park, Rood and Riddle Dowager S. at Keeneland, Bayakoa S. at Oaklawn Park, Penn Mile S. at Penn National, Miss Preakness S. at Pimlico and Fasig-Tipton Waya S. at Saratoga.

No races were downgraded from Grade III to Listed status for 2015.

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

Three races were downgraded from Listed to Non-Listed Black Type status for 2015: the Lady Canterbury S. at Canterbury Park and West Virginia Legislature Chairman’s Cup S. and West Virginia Senate President’s Cup S. at Mountaineer Park.

The Calder Oaks, Stage Door Betty H., Darn That Alarm H. and Spend A Buck H. at Calder Race Course; Lady Charles Town S. at Charles Town; Blue Hen S., Dover S., Endine S., Sussex S. at Delaware Park; Bayou S., Bonapaw S., Colonel Power S., F. W. Gaudin Memorial S. and Thanksgiving H. at Fair Grounds; Serena’s Song S. and Skip Away S. at Monmouth Park; Red Bud S. at Oaklawn Park; Trevose S., Sleigh Ride S., Philmont S. and Changing Times S. at Parx Racing; Capital City S. and Jenny Wade S. at Penn National; and Presque Isle Debutante S. at Presque Isle Downs were not eligible for grading in 2015.

Following is a summary breakdown of all grade levels and a complete list of all upgraded and downgraded U.S. races for the 2015 racing season as well as the complete list of 2015 Graded and Listed stakes.

2015 Graded Stakes Number % Graded %Eligible Change from 2014
Grade I 110 23.8% 0
Grade II 134 28.9% -6
Grade III 219 47.3% +14
All Graded 463 61.7%
Listed 171 22.8%
Non-Listed Eligible 116 15.5%
All Gr., L & NLE Races 750

[Kasept]

TOBA American Graded Stakes Committee -- Summary of Decisions Made at December 3, 2014 Grading Session

RACES UPGRADED FOR 2015:

Two-Year-Old Fillies
None

Three-Year-Old Fillies
Sweetest Chant S. (T) (Gulfstream Park) Listed to Grade III
Edgewood S. (T) (Churchill Downs) Listed to Grade III
Miss Preakness S. (Pimlico) Listed to Grade III
Ginger Brew S. (Gulfstream Park) Non-Listed Black Type to Listed
Instant Racing S. (Oaklawn Park) Non-Listed Black Type to Listed

Older Fillies and Mares
Bayakoa S. (Oaklawn Park) Listed to Grade III
Fasig-Tipton Waya S. (T) (Saratoga) Listed to Grade III
Rood and Riddle Dowager S. (T) (Keeneland) Listed to Grade III
Locust Grove S. (Churchill Downs) Non-Listed Black Type to Listed
Houston Ladies Classic S. (Sam Houston Race Park) Non-Listed Black Type to Listed
Affectionately S. (Aqueduct) Non-Listed Black Type to Listed
American Beauty S. (T) (Santa Anita Park) Non-Listed Black Type to Listed
Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon S. (T) (Kentucky Downs) Non-Listed Black Type to Listed
Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf S. (T) (Kentucky Downs) Non-Listed Black Type to Listed

Two-Year-Olds
None

Three-Year-Olds
Penn Mile S. (T) (Penn National) Non-Listed Black Type to Grade III
City of Laurel S. (Laurel Park) Non-Listed Black Type to Listed

Older Horses
American St. Leger S. (T) (Arlington Park) Listed to Grade III
Homecoming Classic S. (Churchill Downs) Non-Listed Black Type to Listed
Harlan’s Holiday S. (Gulfstream Park) Non-Listed Black Type to Listed
Thunder Road S. (T) (Santa Anita Park) Non-Listed Black Type to Listed
Joe Hernandez S. (T) (Santa Anita Park) Non-Listed Black Type to Listed
Fabulous Strike S. (Penn National) Non-Listed Black Type to Listed
Kentucky Downs Turf Dash S. (T) (Kentucky Downs) Non-Listed Black Type to Listed


RACES DOWNGRADED FOR 2015:

Two-Year-Old Fillies
Blue Hen S. (Delaware Park) not eligible
Presque Isle Debutante S. (Presque Isle Downs) not eligible

Three-Year-Old Fillies
Delaware Oaks (Delaware Park) Grade II to Grade III
Serena’s Song S. (Monmouth Park) not eligible
Calder Oaks (T) (Calder Race Course) not eligible
Lady Charles Town S. (Charles Town) not eligible
Trevose S. (Parx Racing) not eligible

Older Fillies and Mares
Molly Pitcher S. (Monmouth Park) Grade II to Grade III
Top Flight H. (Aqueduct) Grade II to Grade III
West Virginia Senate President’s Cup S. (Mountaineer Park) Listed to Non-Listed Black Type
Lady Canterbury S. (T) (Canterbury Park) Listed to Non-Listed Black Type
Red Bud S. (Oaklawn Park) not eligible
Sleigh Ride S. (Parx Racing) not eligible
Stage Door Betty H. (Calder Race Course) not eligible
Bayou S. (T) (Fair Grounds) not eligible
Jenny Wade S. (T) (Penn National) not eligible
Endine S. (Delaware Park) not eligible

Two-Year-Olds
Dover S. (Delaware Park) not eligible

Three-Year-Olds
Robert L. Lewis S. (Santa Anita Park) Grade II to Grade III
Jerome S. (Aqueduct) Grade II to Grade III
Capital City S. (T) (Penn National) not eligible
Philmont S. (Parx Racing) not eligible

Older Horses
San Juan Capistrano S. (T) (Santa Anita Park) Grade II to Grade III
West Virginia Legislature Chairman’s Cup S. (Mountaineer Park) Listed to Non-Listed Black Type
Skip Away S. (Monmouth Park) not eligible
Darn That Alarm H. (Calder Race Course) not eligible
Spend A Buck H. (Calder Race Course) not eligible
Sussex S. (T) (Delaware Park) not eligible
F. W. Gaudin Memorial S. (Fair Grounds) not eligible
Colonel Power S. (T) (Fair Grounds) not eligible
Bonapaw S. (T) (Fair Grounds) not eligible
Thanksgiving H. (Fair Grounds) not eligible
Changing Times S. (Parx Racing) not eligible