HRI Edited Release – 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 2020, the results of its annual grading session conducted December 17 and 18 in Lexington.
The Committee reviewed 844 U.S. stakes races with a purse of at least $75,000, and assigned Graded status to 448 of them, two fewer than were graded in 2019, and Listed status to 196 races.
Seven Graded races were upgraded; six new Grade III races were named; 32 new Listed races were upgraded from non-Listed Black Type status. Thirteen races which carried Graded or Listed status in 2019 are no longer eligible for grading.
No races were upgraded to Grade I status for 2020.
Four races were downgraded from Grade I to Grade II for 2020: the Vosburgh S. at Belmont Park; Chandelier S., Santa Anita Oaks and Santa Anita Sprint Championship S. at Santa Anita Park.
Seven races were upgraded to Grade II status for 2020: the Fort Marcy S., Pennine Ridge S. and Pilgrim S. at Belmont Park; Edgewood S. and Pat Day Mile S. at Churchill Downs; Dixiana Bourbon S. at Keeneland; and Joe Hernandez S. at Santa Anita Park.
Six races were downgraded from Grade II to Grade III in 2020: the Gazelle S. at Aqueduct; Pocahontas S. at Churchill Downs; Fasig-Tipton Holy Bull S. at Gulfstream Park; Monmouth S. at Monmouth Park; and Kona Gold S. and San Luis Rey S. at Santa Anita Park.
Six races were upgraded to Grade III status for 2020: the Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational S. and Runhappy S. at Belmont Park; Dogwood S. at Churchill Downs; Louisiana S. at Fair Grounds; Kitten’s Joy S. at Gulfstream Park; and Challenger S. at Tampa Bay Downs.
Six races were downgraded from Grade III to Listed status for 2020: the American Derby, Arlington Matron S. and Hanshin Cup S. at Arlington Park; All American S. at Golden Gate Fields; Hutcheson S. at Gulfstream Park; and Oceanport S. at Monmouth Park.
