Photo:

Jon Durr / Eclipse Sportswire

The American graded-stakes committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association upgraded four graded stakes and downgraded 33 for 2025.

One race was upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1 status for 2025, the American Turf at Churchill Downs.

One race was downgraded from Grade 1 to Grade 2 status for 2025: the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga.

The committee reviewed 957 U.S. stakes races with a purse of at least $75,000 and assigned graded status to 415 of them, 14 fewer than were graded in 2024, and listed status to 210 races. Four graded races were upgraded, one new Grade 1 and three new Grade 2 races were named and nine new Grade 3 races were identified. Twelve new listed races and one new listed-restricted race were upgraded from non-listed black-type status.

The TOBA committee downgraded one Grade 1, 10 Grade 2 and 22 Grade 3 races. Twenty-one listed races were downgraded to no-listed black-type status.

Three races were upgraded to Grade 2 status for 2025: the Jockey Club Derby Invitational at Belmont at Aqueduct, Chicago at Churchill Downs, and Sycamore at Keeneland.

Ten races were downgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 3 status for 2025: the John A. Nerud and Pennine Ridge at Belmont at Aqueduct; Delaware Handicap at Delaware Park; Fort Lauderdale and Pan American at Gulfstream Park; Fayette at Keeneland; San Gabriel, Summertime Oaks and Triple Bend at Santa Anita; and True North at Saratoga.

Nine races were upgraded to Grade 3 status for 2025: the Glen Cove and Winter Memories at Belmont at Aqueduct; Arisides, Kelly’s Landing, and Mamzelle at Churchill Downs; Dueling Grounds Oaks Invitational at Kentucky Downs; Unzip Me at Santa Anita Park; and Coronation Cup and Mahony at Saratoga.

Twenty-two races were downgraded from Grade 3 to listed status for 2025: the Go For Wand, Toboggan and Withers at Aqueduct; Dwyer, Knickerbocker and Noble Damsel at Belmont at Aqueduct; Cardinal at Churchill Downs; Bob Hope at Del Mar; Kitten’s Joy, Suwannee River and Sweetest Chant at Gulfstream Park; John B. Connally Turf Cup at Sam Houston Race Park; Barbara Fritchie and General George at Laurel Park; Monmouth at Monmouth Park; West Virginia Governor’s at Mountaineer Park; Chick Lang at Pimlico; Providencia and Santa Ynez at Santa Anita Park; Saranac at Saratoga; Sunland Park Derby at Sunland Park; and Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs.

Twelve races were upgraded to listed status for 2025: the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance for 2-year-olds on turf, Chorleywood, Isaac Murphy Marathon Overnight., Louisville Thoroughbred Society and Roxelana Overnight at Churchill Downs; Van Clief at Colonial Downs; Lafayette at Keeneland; Gun Runner at Kentucky Downs; Matron at Oaklawn Park; Cathryn Sophia at Parx Racing; Hilltop at Pimlico; and John Shear at Santa Anita Park.

One race was upgraded to listed-restricted status for 2025: the Lure at Santa Anita Park.

Twenty-one races were downgraded from listed to non-listed black-type status for 2025: the Heavenly Prize and Interborough at Aqueduct; Awad at Belmont at Aqueduct; Kent at Delaware Park; Marie G. Krantz Memorial and Silverbulletday at Fair Grounds; Carry Back at Gulfstream Park; Prince George’s County, Richard W. Small and Safely Kept at Laurel Park; Cliff Hanger, Mr. Prospector, Oceanport and Sapling at Monmouth Park; Bathhouse Row at Oaklawn Park; Parx Dash at Parx Racing; James W. Murphy at Pimlico; Presque Isle Mile at Presque Isle Downs; Governor’s Cup at Remington Park; Jersey Girl at Saratoga; and Zia Park Oaks at Zia Park.

The Flat Out at Belmont Park; Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (3-year-olds and up on dirt at Breeders’ Cup; Tropical Turf at Gulfstream Park; Dr. James Penny Memorial at Parx Racing; Kalookan Queen at Santa Anita; and Alydar, Riskaverse, Summer Colony and Tale of the Cat at Saratoga were not eligible for grading in 2025.

Following is a summary breakdown of all grade levels. For a complete list of all upgraded and downgraded U.S. races for 2025 as well as the complete list of 2025 graded and listed stakes, visit the TOBA website.