graded stakes

The Jockey Club of Canada's Graded Stakes Committee held its annual review of graded and listed stakes, and the number of higher level races will remain at 41, according to a press release late on Tuesday from the Jockey Club of Canada. The Committee reviewed the North American Race Committee (NARC) figures for all graded, listed and potentially listed races in Canada. Based on the data, the committee determined that the GIII British Columbia Derby will be downgraded to listed status and the early October running at Woodbine of the...

Buetane (Tiz the Law), a $1.15-million OBS April breezer and distant runner-up in the GI Spendthrift Farm Hopeful S. at Saratoga last summer, headlines a field of five set for Saturday's GII San Vicente S. going seven furlongs at Santa Anita. The Zedan Racing Stables, Inc. colorbearer debuted with a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' performance at Del Mar Aug. 3. He finished 8 1/2 lengths behind fellow 'Rising Star' and unbeaten GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Ted Noffey (Into Mischief) as the favorite last time out at the...

Tom Ryan's observation that California graded stakes have been decimated by the graded stakes committee is spot on, but does not delve into the issue deeply nor address solutions. I applaud him speaking out against a system that adheres to a doctrine of the past, which evaluates many criteria while ignoring the fact that all graded stakes (save a select few) will be the domain of slot-enhanced, subsidized racetracks in the near term. The idea that the Breeders' Cup and/or Jockey Club could ignore this trend while sitting idly by...

In a wide-open edition of the GII Bank of America Valley View Stakes, it was Claiborne Farm's homebred filly Admit (Blame) who stepped up to the mark Friday, capturing her first graded stakes race under John Velazquez. After breaking her maiden in her third career start on the Tapeta at Turfway last December, the Thomas Drury trainee tried the Road to the Kentucky Oaks, earning placings in both the Cincinnati Trophy Stakes and the Bourbonette Oaks on the synthetic surface before switching to the dirt to contest the GI Central...

A total of 429 graded stakes races--down from 440 in 2023--and four fewer top-level events will be contested in 2024, the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association announced following its two-day grading session Dec. 14 and 15. The Committee reviewed 970 overall with purses of at least $75,000 and also assigned listed status to a further 213 races. Some 10 races were upgraded from their previous status--one new Grade I and nine Grade Iis. Four new Grade III events were also listed. Fourteen new listed...

As Hall of Famer Wayne Lukas entered his mid-eighties, his longevity and his persistence became one of racing's best feel-good stories. A trainer who belongs in the conversation as one of the best of all time, he was still out there every day, physically active, mentally sharp. There didn't seem to be anything stopping him. But there was a missing ingredient. Lukas, now 87, simply wasn't winning many races, especially important ones. Lukas won the 2018 GII Risen Star S. with Bravazo (Awesome Again) on Feb. 17, 2018. He didn't...

Ballet Dancing earned her first stakes victory in style, skipping clear to an authoritative victory in the GIII Santa Ana S. at Santa Anita Sunday. Stretching out to a 1 1/4 miles for the first time, the bay filly was away well and was in hand while stalking pacesetting longshot Annaghlasa (Ire) (Estidhkaar {Ire}) through fractions of :24.01, :47.22 and 1:12.07. Finally let loose into the far turn, she ricocheted to the lead off the turn and was quickly beyond the reach of all pursuers. Favored Australia Mia (Street Sense),...

The Jockey Club of Canada's Graded Stakes Committee held its annual review of the graded and listed stakes races in Canada. The number of graded stakes in Canada will increase to 42. The increase is due to the return of the GI Canadian International and the upgrade of one listed race to Grade III status. No graded stakes races were downgraded. The Committee reviewed the North American Race Committee (NARC) figures and the Race Quality Scores (RQS) for all graded, listed, and potentially listed races in Canada. Last year was...

A pair of 20-point GI Kentucky Derby preps headline Saturday's stakes action in the U.S. Aqueduct's GIII Withers S.--pushed back a week due to cold weather--was helped slightly from a field size perspective by the delay and a group of seven are now set to line up. Gary and Mary West's Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) invades from Oaklawn and will look to provide trainer Brad Cox with a first Withers trophy. A dominant debut winner going seven panels at Keeneland in October, he could only manage fourth as the...

The American Graded Stakes Committee released its list of graded stakes for 2023 Friday and it includes five races that were downgraded from Grade I status to Grade II races, including two of NYRA's more prestigious races for older dirt horses, the Woodward and the Cigar Mile H. Also dropping down from the Grade I to the Grade II level were the Clark S. at Churchill Downs, the Starlet S. at Los Alamitos and the Rodeo Drive S. at Santa Anita. The Woodward was, perhaps, the most surprising inclusion on...

Curly Jack (Good Magic) looks to return to winning ways at a venue at which he is already two-for-two in Saturday's GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. at Churchill Downs. A debut winner at this oval in June, he was off the board in Saratoga's GIII Sanford S. in July, but missed by just a head in the Ellis Park Juvenile S. in August. Rallying to victory in this oval's GIII Iroquois S. Sept. 17, the bay was fifth at odds of 55-1 in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Keeneland...

Trainer Chad Brown will saddle the top two choices on the morning-line for Saturday's GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. at Keeneland, one of three graded stakes races on the afternoon. McKulick (GB) (Frankel {GB}), the even-money choice to become Brown's fifth winner in this prestigious affair, broke through with a career high in the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S. July 9 and added the GIII Jockey Club Oaks Invitational S. at Aqueduct Sept. 17 two starts later. She cuts back in trip to 1 1/8 miles here. McKulick...