FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, December 16, 2022

Contact: Andrew Schweigardt
(859) 277-5891
andys@toba.org

TOBA Announces U.S. Graded and Listed Stakes for 2023

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 calendar year 2023, the results of its annual grading session conducted December 13 and 14.

The Committee reviewed 901 U.S. stakes races with a purse of at least $75,000, and assigned Graded status to 440 of them, nine fewer than were graded in 2022, and Listed status to 206 races. Four Graded races were upgraded; one new Grade I and three new Grade II races were named; four new Grade III races were identified. Twelve new Listed races and one new Listed-Restricted race was upgraded from non-Listed Black Type status.

One race was upgraded from Grade II to Grade I status for 2023: the Stephen Foster S. at Churchill Downs.

Five races were downgraded from Grade I to Grade II status for 2023: the Cigar Mile H. at Aqueduct; Woodward S. at Belmont Park; Clark S. at Churchill Downs; Starlet S. at Los Alamitos Race Course; and Rodeo Drive S. at Santa Anita Park.

Three races were upgraded to Grade II status for 2023: the Beaumont S. and Franklin S. at Keeneland; and Ladies Sprint S. at Kentucky Downs.

Seven races were downgraded from Grade II to Grade III status for 2023: the Sorrento S. at Del Mar; Dinner Party S. at Pimlico; Monrovia S., San Carlos S., San Marcos S. and Santa Ynez S. at Santa Anita Park; and Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs.

Four races were upgraded to Grade III status for 2023: the Manila S. at Belmont Park; Blame S. and Shawnee S. at Churchill Downs; and Music City S. at Kentucky Downs.

Twelve races were downgraded from Grade III to Listed status for 2023: the Nashua S. and Turnback the Alarm H. at Aqueduct; Athenia S. at Belmont Park; Kent S. at Delaware Park; Appleton S. and Tropical Turf S. at Gulfstream Park; Dr. James Penny Memorial S. at Parx Racing; Allaire DuPont Distaff S. at Pimlico; Affirmed S., Santa Barbara S. and Sweet Life S. at Santa Anita Park; and Bernard Baruch H. at Saratoga.

Twelve races were upgraded to Listed status for 2023: the Plenty of Grace S. at Aqueduct; Audubon S., Keertana Overnight S. and Rags to Riches S. at Churchill Downs; Daisycutter H. at Del Mar; Duncan F. Kenner S. and Mardi Gras S. at Fair Grounds; Mr. Prospector S. and Sapling S. at Monmouth Park; Lady of Shamrock S. at Santa Anita Park; and Bourbonette Oaks and John Battaglia Memorial S. at Turfway Park.

One race was upgraded to Listed-Restricted status for 2023: the Wickerr S. at Del Mar.

Eleven races were downgraded from Listed to non-Listed Black Type status for 2023: the Garland of Roses S. and Jerome S. at Aqueduct; California Derby at Golden Gate Fields; Caesars S. at Horseshoe Indianapolis; Stormy Blues S. at Laurel Park; The Very One S. at Pimlico; Karl Boyes S. at Presque Isle Downs; Baffle S. and Desert Code S. at Santa Anita Park; and Columbia S. and Lightning City S. at Tampa Bay Downs.

The Easy Goer S. at Belmont Park; Jefferson Cup S. at Churchill Downs; My Charmer S. and South Beach S. at Gulfstream Park; Beverly J. Lewis S. at Los Alamitos Race Course; Super Derby at Louisiana Downs; Spring Fever S. at Oaklawn Park; and Fabulous Strike S. and Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup S. at Penn National were not eligible for grading in 2023.

Following is a summary breakdown of all grade levels and a complete list of all upgraded and downgraded U.S. races for 2023 as well as the complete list of 2023 Graded and Listed stakes.

 

 

The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA), based in Lexington, Ky., was formed in 1961 and is a national trade organization of leading Thoroughbred owners and breeders. TOBA’s mission is to improve the economics, integrity and pleasure of the sport on behalf of Thoroughbred owners and breeders. Projects managed by TOBA include the American Graded Stakes Committee, Claiming Crown, Ownership Seminars, Breeding, Conformation & Pedigree Clinics, US-Bred, OwnerView and the Sales Integrity Program. TOBA provides international representation for U.S. owners and breeders on the International Grading and Race Planning Advisory Committee, International Cataloguing Standards Committee and International Thoroughbred Breeders Federation. Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) is the charitable arm of TOBA. TOBA Media Properties, a subsidiary of TOBA, is the co-owner of BloodHorse LLC. TOBA is represented on the board of directors of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association and the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium as founding members.