Contact: Andrew Schweigardt
(859) 277-5891
andys@toba.org
TOBA Announces U.S. Graded and Listed Stakes for 2019
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 2019, the results of its annual grading session conducted November 27 and 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 III races and one Grade II race were named; 23 new Listed races were upgraded from non-Listed Black Type status. Ten races which carried Graded or Listed status in 2018 are no longer eligible for grading.
Three races were upgraded to Grade I status for 2019: the Jaipur Invitational S. and Woody Stephens S. at Belmont Park and Churchill Downs S. at Churchill Downs.
Six races were downgraded from Grade I to Grade II for 2019: the Beldame S. at Belmont Park; Stephen Foster H. at Churchill Downs; Los Alamitos Cash Call Futurity at Los Alamitos Race Course; and Santa Margarita S., Triple Bend S. and Zenyatta S. at Santa Anita Park.
Five races were upgraded to Grade II status for 2019: the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint; Twin Spires Turf Sprint S. at Churchill Downs; Gallant Bob S. at Parx Racing; Eddie D S. at Santa Anita Park; and Amsterdam S. at Saratoga.
Six races were downgraded from Grade II to Grade III in 2019: the Chilukki S. at Churchill Downs; Barbara Fritchie S. at Laurel Park; Bayakoa S. at Los Alamitos Race Course; and Honeymoon S., La Canada S. and Santa Ana S. at Santa Anita Park.
Nine races were upgraded to Grade III status for 2019: the Forbidden Apple S. and Futurity S. at Belmont Park; Green Flash H. at Del Mar; Franklin-Simpson S. at Kentucky Downs; Chick Lang S. at Pimlico; Astra S., Joe Hernandez S. and Sweet Life S. at Santa Anita Park; and Quick Call S. at Saratoga.
Eleven races were downgraded from Grade III to Listed status for 2019: the Tempted S. at Aqueduct; Arlington Classic S. at Arlington Park; Aristides S. at Churchill Downs; Groupie Doll S. at Ellis Park; Dania Beach S., My Charmer S. and Skip Away S. at Gulfstream Park; Commonwealth Oaks at Laurel Park; Lone Star Park H. at Lone Star Park; Violet S. at Monmouth Park; and DRF Bets Bourbonette Oaks at Turfway Park.
Sixteen races were upgraded to Listed status for 2019: the Danger’s Hour S., Queens County S. and Stymie S. at Aqueduct; Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational S., Christiecat S., Pumpkin Pie S. and River Memories S. at Belmont Park; William Walker S. at Churchill Downs; Buddy Diliberto Memorial S. and Woodchopper S. at Fair Grounds; Dave’s Friend S. and Henry S. Clark S. at Laurel Park; Beverly J.
Lewis S. at Los Alamitos Race Course; Steel Valley Sprint S. at Mahoning Valley Race Course; Black Pearl S. at Santa Anita Park; and Challenger S. at Tampa Bay Downs.
Seven races were upgraded to Listed – Restricted status for 2019: the Osunitas S. and Wickerr S. at Del Mar; Old Friends S. at Kentucky Downs; and Alydar S., Curlin S., John’s Call S. and Riskaverse S. at Saratoga.
Ten races were downgraded from Listed to non-Listed Black Type status for 2019: the Treasure Chest S. at Delta Downs; Any Limit S. at Gulfstream Park; Wide Country S. at Laurel Park; Betfair.com Long Branch S., Boiling Springs S. and Sapling S. at Monmouth Park; West Virginia House of Delegates Speaker’s Cup S. at Mountaineer Park; Tom Ridge S. at Presque Isle Downs; Clever Trevor S. at Remington Park; and Lady Jacqueline S. at Thistledown.
The Delta Downs Jackpot S., Delta Princess S. and My Trusty Cat S. at Delta Downs; El Prado S. and Spectacular Bid S. at Gulfstream Park; Hawthorne Gold Cup H. and Illinois Derby at Hawthorne Racecourse; Majestic Light S. at Monmouth Park; PTHA President’s Cup S. at Parx Racing; and Precisionist S. at Santa Anita Park 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.
Following is 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.
| 2019 Graded Stakes | Number | % Graded | % Eligible | Change from 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade I | 103 | 22.9% | -3 | |
| Grade II | 131 | 29.1% | +2 | |
| Grade III | 216 | 48% | -4 | |
| All Graded | 450 | |||
| Listed | 174 | |||
| Listed – Restricted | 13 | |||
| Non-Listed Eligible | 170 | |||
| All Gr., L & NLE Races | 807 |
Races Upgraded for 2019:
Two-Year-Old Fillies
None
| Three-Year-Old Fillies | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sweet Life S. (T) | (Santa Anita Park) | Listed to Grade III |
| Beverly J. Lewis S. | (Los Alamitos Race Course) | non-Listed Black Type to Listed |
| Black Pearl S. (T) | (Santa Anita Park) | non-Listed Black Type to Listed |
| Christiecat S. (T) | (Belmont Park) | non-Listed Black Type to Listed |
| Riskaverse S. (T) | (Saratoga) | non-Listed Black Type to Listed – Restricted |
| Older Fillies and Mares | ||
|---|---|---|
| Astra S. (T) | (Santa Anita Park) | Listed to Grade III |
| Pumpkin Pie S. | (Belmont Park) | non-Listed Black Type to Listed |
| River Memories S. (T) | (Belmont Park) | non-Listed Black Type to Listed |
| Osunitas S. (T) | (Del Mar) | non-Listed Black Type to Listed – Restricted |
| Two-Year-Olds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (T) | Listed to Grade II | |
| Futurity S. (T) | (Belmont Park) | Listed to Grade III |
| Three-Year-Olds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Woody Stephens S. | (Belmont Park) | Grade II to Grade I |
| Amsterdam S. | (Saratoga) | Grade III to Grade II |
| Gallant Bob S. | (Parx Racing) | Grade III to Grade II |
| Chick Lang S. | (Pimlico) | Listed to Grade III |
| Franklin-Simpson S. | (Kentucky Downs) | non-Listed Black Type to Grade III |
| Quick Call S. | (Saratoga) | Listed to Grade III |
| Steel Valley Sprint S. | (Mahoning Valley Race Course) | non-Listed Black Type to Listed |
| William Walker S. | (Churchill Downs) | non-Listed Black Type to Listed |
| Woodchopper S. | (Fair Grounds) | non-Listed Black Type to Listed |
| Curlin S. | (Saratoga) | non-Listed Black Type to Listed – Restricted |
| Older Horses | ||
|---|---|---|
| Churchill Downs S. | (Churchill Downs) | Grade II to Grade I |
| Jaipur Invitational S. (T) | (Belmont Park) | Grade II to Grade I |
| Eddie D S. (T) | (Santa Anita Park) | Grade III to Grade II |
| Twin Spires Turf Sprint S. (T) | (Churchill Downs) | Grade III to Grade II |
| Forbidden Apple S. (T) | (Belmont Park) | Listed to Grade III |
| Green Flash H. (T) | (Del Mar) | Listed to Grade III |
| Joe Hernandez S. (T) | (Santa Anita Park) | Listed to Grade III |
| Belmont Turf Sprint Inv. S. (T) | (Belmont Park) | non-Listed Black Type to Listed |
| Buddy Diliberto Memorial S. (T) | (Fair Grounds) | non-Listed Black Type to Listed |
| Challenger S. | (Tampa Bay Downs) | non-Listed Black Type to Listed |
| Danger’s Hour S. (T) | (Aqueduct) | non-Listed Black Type to Listed |
| Dave’s Friend S | (Laurel Park) | non-Listed Black Type to Listed |
| Henry S. Clark S. (T) | (Laurel Park) | non-Listed Black Type to Listed |
| Queens County S. | (Aqueduct) | non-Listed Black Type to Listed |
| Stymie S. | (Aqueduct) | non-Listed Black Type to Listed |
| Alydar S. | (Saratoga) | non-Listed Black Type to Listed – Restricted |
| John Call S. (T) | (Saratoga) | non-Listed Black Type to Listed – Restricted |
| Old Friends S. (T) | (Kentucky Downs) | non-Listed Black Type to Listed – Restricted |
| Wickerr S. (T) | (Del Mar) | non-Listed Black Type to Listed – Restricted |
Races Downgraded for 2019:
| Two-Year-Old Fillies | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tempted S. | (Aqueduct) | Grade III to Listed |
| Delta Downs Princess S. | (Delta Downs) | not eligible |
| My Trusty Cat S. | (Delta Downs) | not eligible |
| Three-Year-Old Fillies | ||
|---|---|---|
| Honeymoon S. (T) | (Santa Anita Park) | Grade II to Grade III |
| Commonwealth Oaks (T) | (Laurel Park) | Grade III to Listed |
| DRF Bets Bourbonette S. | (Turfway Park) | Grade III to Listed |
| Any Limit S. | (Gulfstream Park) | Listed to non-Listed Black Type |
| Boiling Springs S. (T) | (Monmouth Park) | Listed to non-Listed Black Type |
| Wide Country S. | (Laurel Park) | Listed to non-Listed Black Type |
| Older Fillies and Mares | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beldame S. | (Belmont Park) | Grade I to Grade II |
| Santa Margarita S. | (Santa Anita Park) | Grade I to Grade II |
| Zenyatta S. | (Santa Anita Park) | Grade I to Grade II |
| Barbara Fritchie S. | (Laurel Park) | Grade II to Grade III |
| Bayakoa S. | (Los Alamitos Race Course) | Grade II to Grade III |
| Chilukki S. | (Churchill Downs) | Grade II to Grade III |
| La Canada S. | (Santa Anita Park) | Grade II to Grade III |
| Santa Ana S. (T) | (Santa Anita Park) | Grade II to Grade III |
| Groupie Doll S. | (Ellis Park) | Grade III to Listed |
| My Charmer S. (T) | (Gulfstream Park) | Grade III to Listed |
| Violet S. (T) | (Monmouth Park) | Grade III to Listed |
| Lady Jacqueline S. | (Thistledown) | Listed to non-Listed Black Type |
| Treasure Chest S. | (Delta Downs) | Listed to non-Listed Black Type |
| Two-Year-Olds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Los Alamitos Cash Call Futurity | (Los Alamitos Race Course) | Grade I to Grade II |
| Clever Trevor S. | (Remington Park) | Listed to non-Listed Black Type |
| Sapling S. | (Monmouth Park) | Listed to non-Listed Black Type |
| Delta Downs Jackpot S. | (Delta Downs) | not eligible |
| Three-Year-Olds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Arlington Classic S. (T) | (Arlington Park) | Grade III to Listed |
| Dania Beach S. (T) | (Gulfstream Park) | Grade III to Listed |
| Betfair.com Long Branch S. | (Monmouth Park) | Listed to non-Listed Black Type |
| Tom Ridge S. | (Presque Isle Downs) | Listed to non-Listed Black Type |
| Illinois Derby | (Hawthorne Racecourse) | not eligible |
| Spectacular Bid S. | (Gulfstream Park) | not eligible |
| Older Horses | ||
|---|---|---|
| Stephen Foster H. | (Churchill Downs) | Grade I to Grade II |
| Triple Bend S. | (Santa Anita Park) | Grade I to Grade II |
| Aristides S. | (Churchill Downs) | Grade III to Listed |
| Lone Star Park H. | (Lone Star Park) | Grade III to Listed |
| Skip Away S. | (Gulfstream Park) | Grade III to Listed |
| WV House of Delegates Speaker’s Cup S. (T) | (Mountaineer Park) | Listed to non-Listed Black Type |
| El Prado S. (T) | (Gulfstream Park) | not eligible |
| Hawthorne Gold Cup H. | (Hawthorne Racecourse) | not eligible |
| Majestic Light S. | (Monmouth Park) | not eligible |
| PTHA President’s Cup S. | (Parx Racing) | not eligible |
| Precisionist S. | (Santa Anita Park) | not eligible |