The American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association has released its listing of U.S. Graded Stakes for 2006, the results of its annual grading session conducted December 1 in Lexington.
The Committee reviewed 734 unrestricted U.S. stakes races with a purse of at least $75,000, and assigned graded status to 475 of them, eight more than were graded in 2005. A total of 11 graded races were upgraded, including four new G1 races and seven new G2 races, 12 new G3 races were identified. One race which carried G3 status in 2005 is no longer eligible for grading.
Four races were upgraded to G1 status for 2006: the Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs, Princess Rooney Handicap at Calder Race Course, Spinaway Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, and Oak Leaf Stakes at Oak Tree at Santa Anita Park.
No races were downgraded from G1 to G2 for 2006.
Seven races were upgraded to G2 status for 2006: the Jefferson Cup Stakes at Churchill Downs, Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs, Jim Murray Memorial Handicap at Hollywood Park, Bed o’ Roses Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Aqueduct, Jenny Wiley Stakes and Vinery Madison Stakes at Keeneland, and Ballston Spa Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Saratoga Race Course.
Two races were downgraded from G2 to G3 in 2006: the Pan American Handicap and Orchid Handicap at Gulfstream Park.
Twelve races were upgraded to G3 status for 2006: the Sham Stakes, Sir Beaufort Stakes, and Santa Paula Stakes at Santa Anita Park, Fair Grounds Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Fair Grounds, Dallas Turf Cup Handicap at Lone Star Park, John B. Connally Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Sam Houston Race Park, Ack Ack Handicap at Hollywood Park, Kenny Noe Jr. Handicap and Stage Door Betty Handicap at Calder Race Course, Bourbonette Breeders’ Cup Stakes at Turfway Park, Arlington Oaks at Arlington Park, and Victory Ride Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.
Three races were downgraded from G3 to Ungraded status for 2006: the Flash Stakes at Belmont Park, Lafayette Stakes at Keeneland, and Desert Stormer Handicap at Hollywood Park. The Laurel Futurity at Laurel Park was not eligible for grading in 2006.
At the end is a summary breakdown of all grade levels after the complete list of all upgraded and downgraded U.S. races for the 2006 racing season.
TOBA American Graded Stakes Committee
Summary of Decisions Made at December 1, 2005 Grading Session
RACES UPGRADED FOR 2006:
Two-Year-Old Fillies
Oak Leaf S. - (Oak Tree at Santa Anita Park) - G2 to G1
Spinaway S. - (Saratoga Race Course) - G2 to G1
Three-Year-Old Fillies
Bourbonette Breeders’ Cup S. - (Turfway Park) - Ungraded to G3
Arlington Oaks - (Arlington Park) - Ungraded to G3
Victory Ride S. - (Saratoga Race Course) - Ungraded to G3
Santa Paula S. - (Santa Anita Park) - Ungraded to G3
Older Fillies and Mares
Princess Rooney H. - (Calder Race Course) - G2 to G1
Bed o’ Roses Breeders’ Cup H. - (Aqueduct) - G3 to G2
Jenny Wiley S. (T) - (Keeneland) - G3 to G2
Ballston Spa Breeders’ Cup H. (T) - (Saratoga Race Course) - G3 to G2
Vinery Madison S. - (Keeneland) - G3 to G2
Stage Door Betty H. - (Calder Race Course) - Ungraded to G3
Two-Year-Olds
None
Three-Year-Olds
Jefferson Cup S. (T) - (Churchill Downs) - G3 to G2
Virginia Derby (T) - (Colonial Downs) - G3 to G2
Sham S. - - (Santa Anita Park) - Ungraded to G3
Sir Beaufort S. (T) - (Santa Anita Park) - Ungraded to G3
Older Horses
Clark H. - (Churchill Downs) - G2 to G1
Jim Murray Memorial H. (T) - (Hollywood Park) - G3 to G2
Fair Grounds Breeders’ Cup H. (T) - (Fair Grounds) - Ungraded to G3
Dallas Turf Cup H. (T) - (Lone Star Park) - Ungraded to G3
John B. Connally Breeders’ Cup H. (T) (Sam Houston Race Park) - Ungraded to G3
Ack Ack H. - (Hollywood Park) - Ungraded to G3
Kenny Noe Jr. H. - (Calder Race Course) - Ungraded to G3
RACES DOWNGRADED FOR 2006:
Two-Year-Old Fillies
None
Three-Year-Old Fillies
None
Older Fillies and Mares
Orchid H. (T) - (Gulfstream Park) - G2 to G3
Desert Stormer H. - (Hollywood Park) - G3 to Ungraded
Two-Year-Olds
Flash S. - (Belmont Park) - G3 to Ungraded
Laurel Futurity - (Laurel Park) - Not eligible
Three-Year-Olds
Lafayette S. - (Keeneland) - G3 to Ungraded
Older Horses
Pan American H. (T) - (Gulfstream Park) - G2 to G3
| 2006 Graded Stakes | Number | Graded | Eligible | Change from 2005 |
| Grade 1 | 104 | 21.9% | +4 | |
| Grade 2 | 160 | 33.7% | +1 | |
| Grade 3 | 211 | 44.4% | +3 | |
| All Graded | 475 | 64.7% | ||
| Ungraded | 259 | 35.3% | ||
| All Eligible Races | 734 |
