TOBA upgrades Fourstardave to Grade 1 for 2016

Edited Press Release

The American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) presented its listing of U.S. graded and listed stakes races for 2016, the results of its annual grading session conducted December 2 in Lexington, Kentucky.

The Committee reviewed 788 unrestricted U.S. stakes races with a purse of at least $75,000, and assigned graded status to 464 of them, one more than were graded in 2015, and listed status to 173 races.

Six graded races were upgraded, eight new Grade 3 races were named and 31 new listed races were upgraded from non-listed black type status. Twenty races which carried graded or listed status in 2015 are no longer eligible for grading.

One race was upgraded to Grade 1 status for 2016 – the Fourstardave S. at Saratoga.

Two races were downgraded from Grade 1 to Grade 2 for 2016 – the Eddie Read S. at Del Mar and Las Virgenes S. at Santa Anita Park.

Five races were upgraded to Grade 2 status for 2016 – the Eight Belles S. at Churchill Downs, Rachel Alexandra S. at Fair Grounds, Shakertown S. and Phoenix S. at Keeneland, and Hillsborough S. at Tampa Bay Downs.

Six races were downgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 3 in 2016 – the Distaff H. at Aqueduct, Futurity S. and Matron S. at Belmont Park, Hawthorne Gold Cup H. at Hawthorne Race Course, Beaumont S. at Keeneland, and Super Derby at Louisiana Downs.

Eight races were upgraded to Grade 3 status for 2016 – the Pennine Ridge S. at Belmont Park, Locust Grove S. at Churchill Downs, Harlan’s Holiday S. at Gulfstream Park, Houston Ladies Classic S. at Sam Houston Race Park, Franklin County S. at Keeneland, Frank J. DeFrancis Memorial Dash S. at Laurel Park, and Megahertz S. and Thunder Road S. at Santa Anita Park.

Four races were downgraded from Grade 3 to listed status for 2016 – the Dogwood S. and Jefferson Cup S. at Churchill Downs, Obeah S. at Delaware Park, and Azalea S. at Gulfstream Park.

Thirty-one races were upgraded to listed status for 2016 – the Gravesend S. at Aqueduct; Tremont S., Belmont Gold Cup Invitational S., Forbidden Apple S., Diablo S., Wonder Again S., Jersey Girl S., Perfect Sting S. and Intercontinental S. at Belmont Park; Mystic Lake Derby at Canterbury Park; El Prado S., Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint S., Silks Run S., Any Limit S. and Sir Shackleton S. at Gulfstream Park; Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint S. and More Than Ready Mile S. at Kentucky Downs; Wide Country S. at Laurel Park; Dixie Belle S. and King Cotton S. at Oaklawn Park; Stormy Blues S. and The Very One S. at Pimlico; Santana Mile S., China Doll S., Sweet Life S., Angels Flight S., Possibly Perfect S. and Desert Stormer S. at Santa Anita Park; Coronation Cup S. and Lucky Coin S. at Saratoga; and Zia Park Derby at Zia Park.

Nine races were downgraded from listed to non-listed black-type status for 2016 – the Cicada S. at Aqueduct; Nancy’s Glitter S. at Gulfstream Park West; River Cities S. and Sunday Silence S. at Louisiana Downs; Regret S. at Monmouth Park; Independence Day S. and West Virginia Secretary of State S. at Mountaineer Park; Fitz Dixon Memorial S. at Presque Isle Downs; and El Joven S. at Retama Park.

Not eligible for graded in 2016 were – the Real Quiet S. and Sharp Cat S. last run at Hollywood Park; Researcher S. at Charles Town; Edward P. Evans All Along S. at Colonial Downs; Barbaro S., John W. Rooney Memorial S. and Go For Wand S. at Delaware Park; Duncan F. Kenner S., Marie G. Krantz Memorial S., New Orleans Ladies S., Tenacious H. and Tiffany Lass S. at Fair Grounds; Bull Dog H. at Fresno; Golden Bear S. at Indiana Grand; Bensalem S. and Langhorne S. at Parx Racing; Prairie Meadows H. at Prairie Meadows; Sunset H. and San Fernando S. at Santa Anita Park; and Rushaway S. at Turway Park.

Following is a summary breakdown of all grade levels. Click on the links for a list of all upgraded and downgraded U.S. races for the 2016 racing season as well as a complete list of 2016 graded and listed stakes.