The American Graded Stakes Committee, which is a part of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders' Association ("TOBA"), released the changes to the 2011 list of graded stakes races in the United States, as reported by the Blood-Horse.com.
The complete list of 2011 Graded Stakes has not yet been posted by the TOBA.
The table below summarizes the races that have seen a change in their graded status from 2010.
|
Changes |
Race |
Track |
Condition |
|
G2 to G1 |
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf |
n/a |
2yo, Turf |
|
G3 to G2 |
Presque Isle Downs Masters |
PID |
3up, F&M, Poly |
|
Breeders' Cup Marathon |
n/a |
3up, Dirt |
|
|
Tampa Bay Derby |
TAM |
3yo, Dirt |
|
|
With Anticipation |
SAR |
2yo, Turf |
|
|
Un to G3 |
Charles Town Classic |
CT |
3up, Dirt |
|
Tampa Bay Stakes |
TAM |
3up, Turf |
|
|
Turf Monster Handicap |
PAR |
3up, Turf |
|
|
Marshua's River |
GP |
3up, F&M, Turf |
|
|
Jessamine |
KEE |
2yo, Fillies, Turf |
|
|
G1 to G2 |
Clement L Hirsch Turf |
Oak Tree |
3up, Turf |
|
G2 to G3 |
DuPont Distaff |
PIM |
3up, F&M, Dirt |
|
Lane's End Stakes |
TP |
3yo, Poly |
|
|
Lexington |
KEE |
3yo, Poly |
|
|
Cornhusker Handicap |
PM |
3up, Dirt |
|
|
San Francisco Mile |
GG |
3up, Turf |
|
|
G3 to Un |
Florida Oaks |
GP |
3yo, Fillies, Dirt |
|
Sana Paula Stakes |
SA |
3yo, Fillies, Dirt |
|
|
Stake Door Betty |
CRC |
3up, F&M, Dirt |
|
|
Lone Star Derby |
LS |
3yo, Dirt |
|
|
Tropical Park Derby |
CRC |
3yo, Turf |
|
|
Chuck Lang |
PIM |
3yo, Dirt |
|
|
Memorial Day Handicap |
CRC |
3up, Dirt |
|
|
Queens Country Handicap |
AQU |
3up, Dirt |
|
|
Carey Memorial |
HAW |
3up, Turf |
|
|
Kenny Noe Jr. Handicap |
CRC |
3up, Dirt |
A few observations:
- The Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint is still not a Grade 1? Seriously? That's a glaring omission in my mind.
- The Marathon to Grade 2...I suppose, but it's hard for me to believe that the Turf Sprint and the Marathon are equals in terms of class. That just does not appear to be the case on the track.
- Only three Breeders' Cup races are left that have yet to achieve Grade 1 status: Turf Sprint, Marathon, and Juvenile Filly Turf. The Marathon might never make it but the other two should get there within the next five years.
- I'm not surprised the Lexington and the Lane's End got dinged by the committee as those two races haven't produced much in recent years.
- Calder got lit up by the committee - four Grade 3s moving to ungraded status
- The move to Grade 2 status seems right for the Tampa Bay Derby; that's been a good race for several years now and certainly a notch above Grade 3.
- I'll have to go back and compare to last year but if my gut instincts are right this is the second year in a row where turf races dominate the list of "upgraded" races. Six of the ten upgrades and only four of the sixteen downgrades are grass races.