 Guided Tour winning the 2001 Stephen Foster Handicap which will be upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1 for 2002 Photo courtesy of Tina Hines |
Graded Stakes Changes for 2002
Dateline: 11/30/01The American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association announced its listing of 486 graded stakes for 2002 on Thursday after a two-day meeting in Lexington, Kentucky. The 486 races, up from 480 last year, were selected from a total 751 eligible races. Of the 486 graded races, there are 101 Grade 1s (20.8% of the total), 155 Grade 2s (31.9%) and 230 Grade 3s (47.3%).
While the number of Grade 1 stakes remained unchanged from last year at 101, the line-up of races was changed. Upgraded to from Grade 2 to Grade 1 status were the Wood Memorial, Keeneland Turf Mile, Stephen Foster Handicap and Humana Distaff. Downgraded back to Grade 2 status were the Jim Dandy Stakes, Oak Leaf Stakes, Super Derby and Swaps Stakes.
2002 Upgraded Races
| Race | Track |
|---|---|
| Humana Distaff Handicap | Churchill Downs |
| Keeneland Turf Mile Stakes | Keeneland |
| Stephen Foster Handicap | Churchill Downs |
| Wood Memorial | Aqueduct |
Five were upgraded from Grade 3 to Grade 2:
| Race | Track |
|---|---|
| Falls City Handicap | Churchill Downs |
| Fleur de Lis Handicap | Churchill Downs |
| Lazaro Barrera Memorial Handicap | Hollywood Park |
| Princess Rooney Stakes | Calder |
| Vagrancy Handicap | Belmont Park |
Thirteen races went from ungraded to Grade 3 status:
| Race | Track |
|---|---|
| Floral Park | Belmont Park |
| Indiana Derby | Hoosier Park |
| Leonard Richards Stakes | Delaware Park |
| Lone Star Derby | Lone Star Park |
| Long Branch Stakes | Monmouth Park |
| Louisville Handicap | Churchill Downs |
| Memorial Day Handicap | Calder |
| Miami Mile Handicap | Calder |
| Miss Preakness Stakes | Pimlico |
| Raven Run Stakes | Keeneland |
| Risen Star Stakes | Fair Grounds |
| Tampa Bay Derby | Tampa Bay Downs |
| West Virginia Derby | Mountaineer Park |
2002 Downgraded Races
| Race | Track |
|---|---|
| Jim Dandy Stakes | Saratoga |
| Super Derby | Louisiana Downs |
| Swaps Stakes | Hollywood Park |
| Oak Leaf Stakes | Santa Anita |
Seven were moved from Grade 2 to Grade 3:
| Race | Track |
|---|---|
| Arlington-Washington Futurity | Arlington |
| Bashford Manor Stakes | Churchill Downs |
| Bel Air Handicap | Hollywood Park |
| Fall Highweight Handicap | Aqueduct |
| Hawthorne Handicap | Hollywood Park |
| Kentucky Cup Sprint Stakes | Turfway Park |
| Railbird Stakes | Hollywood Park |
Three Grade 3 races lost their graded status:
| Race | Track |
|---|---|
| Laurel Turf Cup Stakes | Laurel |
| Reeve Schley Jr. Stakes | Monmouth Park |
| Round Table Stakes | Arlington |
The Sweetest Chant Stakes, previously a Grade 3 at Gulfstream Park, has been discontinued, and the William P. Kyne Handicap, previously a Grade 3 at Bay Meadows, is ineligible for graded status in 2002.
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