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American Graded Stakes Committee Announces 2008 Graded Stakes
The American Graded Stakes Committee which held a grading session on November 27 released the results on November 28. The committee reviewed 718 unrestricted U.S. stakes with a purse of at least $75,000, and assigned graded status to 481, seven more than last year. In 2008, 67% of eligible races will be grade I, II, or III.
In all, 10 races were upgraded; three to grade I and seven to grade II. There will be 18 new grade III events in 2008. No races were downgraded from grade I to grade II. Meanwhile, three grade II events and three grade III events are no longer eligible for grading.
For the time being, the three Breeders’ Cup World Championships races run for the first time in 2007 won’t have a grade. Breeders’ Cup officials earlier this year and again for the November 27 meeting submitted letters asking the American Graded Stakes Committee to consider grade I status for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, and Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, all run for the first time this year. Breeders’ Cup chairman Bill Farish, who attended the grading session as a guest, asked the committee to table the request.
It doesn’t mean the races won’t be evaluated before the 2008 Breeders Cup’ World Championships at Santa Anita Park on October 24-25. At its December 7 meeting, the Breeders’ Cup board of directors may approve plans to add races for next year, one of which probably will be a $1-million sprint on the turf. Breeders’ Cup could, like it did in 2007, submit a request early next year.
The eight Breeders’ Cup World Championships races that existed before this year were all assigned grade I status.
Upgraded to grade I status are two of Keeneland’s turf races: Maker’s Mark Mile Stakes and First Lady Stakes; and Just a Game Stakes on the grass at Belmont Park.
Moved up to grade II status are the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park, Fifth Third Elkhorn Stakes at Keeneland, Indiana Oaks at Hoosier Park, Lake George Stakes at Saratoga, Sands Point Stakes at Belmont Park, Providencia Stakes at Santa Anita Park, and Old Hat Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
Downgraded from grade II to grade III in 2008 are the San Rafael Stakes at Santa Anita, Washington Park Handicap at Arlington Park, and Nassau County Breeders’ Cup Stakes at Belmont Park.
The Belmont Breeders’ Cup Handicap and Genuine Risk Handicap at Belmont Park and Saratoga Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Saratoga were not eligible for grading in 2008.
The new grade III stakes for 2008 are the Woodford Reserve Bourbon Stakes, Bryan Station Stakes, and Appalachian Stakes at Keeneland; Pilgrim Stakes and Miss Grillo Stakes at Belmont; Southwest Stakes and Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn; Obeah Handicap and Robert G. Dick Memorial Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Delaware Park; Florida Oaks and Endeavour Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs; La Habra Stakes and Tuzla Handicap at Santa Anita; Commonwealth Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs; Colonel E.R. Bradley Handicap at Fair Grounds; Boyd Gaming Delta Princess Stakes at Delta Downs; Harold C. Ramser Sr. Handicap at Oak Tree at Santa Anita Park; and Virginia Oaks at Colonial Downs.
Having two races receive grade III status was big news for Tampa Bay Downs, which has steadily improved its racing product in the last 10 years or so. The Florida track now will have four graded stakes. Previously, only the Tampa Bay Derby (gr. III) and Hillsborough Stakes (gr. IIIT) were graded at Tampa.
The five races downgraded from grade III to ungraded status for 2008 are the Arlington Classic Stakes at Arlington Park, Essex Handicap at Oaklawn, Aqueduct Handicap at Aqueduct, Bay Meadows Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Bay Meadows, and Bayou Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Fair Grounds.
The Valley Stream Stakes at Aqueduct and Astarita Stakes and Floral Park Handicap at Belmont were not eligible for grading in 2008.
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