U.S. Graded Stakes for 2003

LEXINGTON, Ky – The American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association today presented its listing of U.S. Graded Stakes for 2003, the results of its annual grading session conducted November 25 - 26 in Lexington.

The Committee reviewed 741 unrestricted U.S. stakes races with a purse of at least $75,000, and assigned graded status to 487 of them, one more than were graded in 2002. A total of six graded races were upgraded, including three new Grade I races and three new Grade II races; 10 new Grade III races were identified. Nine races which carried Grade III status in 2002 are no longer graded.

Three races were upgraded to Grade I status for 2002: the Suburban Handicap at Belmont Park, the Triple Bend Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Hollywood Park, and the Diana Handicap at Saratoga.

Three races were downgraded from Grade I to Grade II for 2003: the Gulfstream Park Handicap at Gulfstream Park; Oaklawn Handicap at Oaklawn Park; and Beverly Hills Handicap at Hollywood Park.

Three races were upgraded to Grade II status for 2003: the Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar; Delaware Handicap at Delaware Park; and the Silverbulletday Stakes at Fair Grounds. The Illinois Derby, originally scheduled for downgrade to Grade III in 2003, will retain its Grade II status. Three races were downgraded from Grade II to Grade III in 2003: the Pegasus Handicap at The Meadowlands; Philip H. Iselin Handicap at Monmouth Park; and the San Bernardino Handicap at Santa Anita Park.

Ten races were upgraded to Grade III status for 2003: the Toboggan Handicap at Aqueduct; Carry Back Stakes, Spend A Buck Handicap, and Smile Sprint Handicap at Calder Race Course; Lecomte Stakes and Whirlaway Handicap at Fair Grounds; Transylvania Stakes, Sycamore Breeders’ Cup Stakes, and Shakertown Stakes at Keeneland; and the WinStar Distaff Handicap at Lone Star Park.

Eight races were downgraded from Grade III to Ungraded status for 2003: the Gallant Fox Handicap, Rare Treat Handicap, and Stymie Handicap at Aqueduct; Ascot Handicap at Bay Meadows; Cowdin Stakes at Belmont Park; Tanforan Handicap at Golden Gate Fields; and the Honeybee Stakes and Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park. The Laurel Dash Stakes was not eligible for grading in 2003.

Following is a summary breakdown of all grade levels and a complete list of all upgraded and downgraded U.S. races for the 2003 racing season.

2003 Graded Stakes	Number	% Graded	% Eligible	Change from 2002
Grade I	101	20.8%		no change
Grade II	155	31.8%		no change
Grade III	231	47.4%		+ 1
All Graded	487		65.7%	no change
Ungraded	254		34.3%
All Eligible Races	741

TOBA American Graded Stakes Committee
Summary of Decisions Made at November 25 - 26, 2002 Grading Session

RACES UPGRADED FOR 2003:

Three-Year-Old Fillies
Silverbulletday S. (Fair Grounds) Grade III to Grade II

Older Fillies and Mares
Diana H. (T) (Saratoga) Grade II to Grade I
Delaware H. (Delaware Park) Grade III to Grade II
WinStar Distaff H. (T) (Lone Star Park) Ungraded to Grade III

Two-Year-Olds
Best Pal S. (Del Mar) Grade III to Grade II

Three-Year-Olds
Carry Back S. (Calder Race Course) Ungraded to Grade III
Lecomte S. (Fair Grounds) Ungraded to Grade III
Transylvania S. (T) (Keeneland) Ungraded to Grade III
Illinois Derby (Sportsman's Park) Retains Grade II

Older Horses
Suburban H. (Belmont Park) Grade II to Grade I
Triple Bend Breeders' Cup H. (Hollywood Park) Grade II to Grade I
Toboggan H. (Aqueduct) Ungraded to Grade III
Spend A Buck H. (Calder Race Course) Ungraded to Grade III
Smile Sprint H. (Calder Race Course) Ungraded to Grade III
Whirlaway H. (Fair Grounds) Ungraded to Grade III
Shakertown S. (T) (Keeneland) Ungraded to Grade III
Sycamore Breeders' Cup S. (T) (Keeneland) Ungraded to Grade III

RACES DOWNGRADED FOR 2003:

Three-Year-Old Fillies
Honeybee S. (Oaklawn Park) Grade III to Ungraded

Older Fillies and Mares
Beverly Hills H. (T) (Hollywood Park) Grade I to Grade II
Rare Treat H. (Aqueduct) Grade III to Ungraded

Two-Year-Olds
Cowdin S. (Belmont Park) Grade III to Ungraded

Three-Year-Olds
Pegasus H. (The Meadowlands) Grade II to Grade III
Rebel S. (Oaklawn Park) Grade III to Ungraded
Ascot H. (T) (Bay Meadows) Grade III to Ungraded

Older Horses
Gulfstream Park H. (Gulfstream Park) Grade I to Grade II
Oaklawn H. (Oaklawn Park) Grade I to Grade II
Philip H. Iselin H. (Monmouth Park) Grade II to Grade III
San Bernardino H. (Santa Anita Park) Grade II to Grade III
Gallant Fox H. (Aqueduct) Grade III to Ungraded
Stymie H. (Aqueduct) Grade III to Ungraded
Tanforan H. (T) (Golden Gate Fields) Grade III to Ungraded
Laurel Dash S. (Laurel Park) not eligible

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