BC Turf Sprint, Juvenile Fillies Turf among four new Grade 1s

BC Turf Sprint, Juvenile Fillies Turf among four new Grade
1s

by Brisnet.com

The American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders
Association on Thursday presented its listing of U.S. graded stakes for 2012,
the results of its annual grading session conducted Wednesday and Thursday in
Lexington, Kentucky.

The Committee reviewed 659 unrestricted U.S. stakes races with a purse of at
least $75,000, and assigned graded status to 465 of them, nine fewer than were
graded in 2011. A total of nine graded races were upgraded, including four new
Grade 1 races and five new Grade 2 races; four new Grade 3 races were
identified. Eleven races which carried graded status in 2011 are no longer
eligible for grading.

Four races were upgraded to Grade 1 status for 2012: the Breeders’ Cup
Juvenile Fillies Turf, Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, Cotillion at Parx Racing and
Jenny Wiley at Keeneland.

Four races were downgraded from Grade 1 to Grade 2 for 2012: the Hopeful and Ruffian Invitational at Saratoga, Hollywood Turf Cup at Hollywood
Park and Pat O’Brien at Del Mar.

Five races were upgraded to Grade 2 status for 2012: the Alysheba at
Churchill Downs, Charles Town Classic at Charles Town, Monmouth at Monmouth Park
and Pan American and Honey Fox at Gulfstream Park.

Five races were downgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 3 in 2012: the American
Derby at Arlington Park, Carry Back at Calder Race Course, Swale at Gulfstream
Park, Providencia at Santa Anita Park and Shuvee at Belmont. The Colonial Turf
Cup at Colonial Downs and First Flight at Belmont Park were not eligible for
grading in 2012.

Four races were upgraded to Grade 3 status for 2012: the Smarty Jones,
Greenwood Cup and Dr. James Penny Memorial at Parx Racing and James Marvin at
Saratoga.

Two races were downgraded from Grade 3 to ungraded status for 2012: the Ouija
Board Distaff at Lone Star Park and Endine at Delaware Park.

The Bryan Station and Perryville at Keeneland; Will Rogers, Round Table and
Ack Ack at Hollywood Park; Golden Gate Fields Turf at Golden Gate Fields; El
Conejo and Tuzla at Santa Anita Park; and Nassau County at Belmont Park, were
not eligible for grading in 2012.

Following is a summary breakdown of all grade levels. Click

here for a complete list of all upgraded and downgraded U.S. races for the
2012 racing season, and

here for the complete list of 2012 graded stakes in Excel format.