Graded Committee Upgrades 11 Stakes, Downgrades 13

The American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association announced Dec. 19 its listing of United States graded and listed stakes races for calendar year 2026, the results of its annual grading session conducted Dec. 17-18.

The committee reviewed 942 U.S. stakes races with a purse of at least $75,000, and assigned graded status to 410 of them, five fewer than were graded in 2025, and listed status to 211 races. Eleven graded races were upgraded; one new grade 1 and 10 new grade 2 races were named; four new grade 3 races were identified. Nine new listed races and one new listed-restricted race were upgraded from non-listed black-type status.

Thirteen graded races were downgraded; two grade 1, five grade 2, and six grade 3 races were demoted. Six listed races were downgraded to non-listed black-type status. Multiple races were downgraded in California, which does not have gaming to supplement purses. 

One race was upgraded from grade 2 to grade 1 status for 2026: the Ladies Turf Sprint Stakes at Kentucky Downs, where purses have skyrocketed due to historical horse racing gaming.

The past two runnings of the Ladies Turf Sprint have been won by Ag Bullet, winner of the Jaipur Stakes (G1T) against males last June. She also hit the board in both the 2024 and 2025 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T).

Two races were downgraded from grade 1 to grade 2 status for 2026: the Franklin-Simpson Stakes at Kentucky Downs and the Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes at Santa Anita Park. The demotion of the Franklin-Simpson comes two years after the committee elevated the turf sprint for 3-year-olds to a grade 1.

Ten races were upgraded to grade 2 status for 2026: the Shawnee Stakes and Unbridled Sidney Stakes at Churchill Downs; Green Flash Handicap at Del Mar; the Bryan Station Stakes, Doubledogdare Stakes, and Giant's Causeway Stakes at Keeneland; the Ladies Turf Stakes and Nashville Derby Invitational Stakes at Kentucky Downs; Molly Pitcher Stakes at Monmouth Park; and Caress Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.

Five races were downgraded from grade 2 to grade 3 status for 2026: the Fort Marcy Stakes and Sands Point Stakes at Belmont Park and Aqueduct Racetrack; the Gulfstream Park Mile Stakes at Gulfstream Park; and the Joe Hernandez Stakes and Santa Maria Stakes at Santa Anita.

Four races were upgraded to grade 3 status for 2026: the Hanshin Stakes and Maxfield Stakes at Churchill Downs and the Indian Summer Stakes and Limestone Stakes at Keeneland.

Six races were downgraded from grade 3 to listed status for 2026: the Red Carpet Stakes at Del Mar; the Pucker Up Stakes at Ellis Park; the Greenwood Cup Stakes at Parx Racing; and the Honeymoon Stakes, the Las Virgenes Stakes, and the Palos Verdes Stakes at Santa Anita Park.

Nine races were upgraded to listed status for 2026: the Autumn Days Stakes at Aqueduct; Anchorage Overnight Stakes, Fern Creek Stakes, and Leslie's Lady Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs; Jeff Hall Memorial Sprint Stakes and KY Downs Preview Ladies Turf Sprint Stakes at Ellis Park; Myrtlewood Stakes at Keeneland; Untapable Stakes at Kentucky Downs; and Holiday Inaugural Stakes at Turfway Park.

One race was upgraded to listed-restricted status for 2026: the Tranquility Lake Stakes at Del Mar.

Six races were downgraded from listed to non-listed black-type status for 2026: the Paradise Creek Stakes at Belmont at Aqueduct; Mardi Gras Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots; City of Laurel Stakes at Laurel Park; Bachelor Stakes and Purple Martin Stakes at Oaklawn Park; and Lazaro Barrera Stakes at Santa Anita Park.

The All American Stakes, El Camino Real Derby, Golden Gate Handicap, and San Francisco Mile Stakes at Golden Gate Fields; Baltimore/Washington International Turf Cup Stakes at Laurel Park; and Lady of Shamrock Stakes, Sham Stakes, and Tokyo City Cup Stakes at Santa Anita Park were not eligible for grading in 2026.