graded stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY - It's not your imagination that jockey Joel Rosario is having a big summer at Saratoga. Rosario, 37, is very much in the hunt for the overall title, a competition led by Irad Ortiz, Jr. Through Thursday's program, Ortiz had 37 wins, eight more than Rosario. However, in graded stakes races, Rosario is far and away the leader with 10 victories from 19 starts, a remarkable 53% win rate. Ortiz is next with five. With the 10, Rosario is in position to smash the current record of...

Hall of Famer Todd A. Pletcher, currently sitting in second place in the Saratoga trainer standings, will be locked and loaded in a pair of Grade I events at the Spa Saturday, led by the 'Win and You're In' GI Whitney S. With the unbeaten sensation and 'TDN Rising Star' Flightline (Tapit) awaiting the GI TVG Pacific Classic at Del Mar Sept. 3, a pair of New York-based heavyweights in the handicap division will throw down in the 12-race card's feature. The uber-talented 'TDN Rising Star' Life Is Good (Into...

The Jockey Club of Canada's Graded Stakes Committee held its annual review of the graded and listed stakes races in Canada and the number of graded stakes in Canada will decrease to 40. The decrease is due partially to individual racetracks choosing to place selected races on hold for the 2022 season and other races that have felt the repercussions of the pandemic. Additionally, two graded stakes races were downgraded. After reviewing the NARC figures and the RQS numbers for all listed and black-type races in Canada, the committee determined...

The American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association Friday announced the results of its annual grading session conducted Jan. 26 and 27 to determine U.S. Graded and Listed stakes races for February 2022 through January 2023. The Committee reviewed 891 U.S. stakes races with a purse of at least $75,000, and assigned Graded status to 449 of them--four more than were graded in 2021, and Listed status to 204 races. Eight Graded races were upgraded and three new Grade I, five new Grade II races and...

Oaklawn, beset by frigid weather which necessitated the cancelling of live racing Friday-Monday, has further altered its stakes schedule to accommodate the extended weather forecast. The featured graded black-type events of Presidents' Day weekend--the GIII Bayakoa S., GIII Razorback H., and GIII Southwest S.--all originally rescheduled for Saturday, Feb. 20, have all been moved again to Sunday, Feb. 21, to take advantage of the best conditions available. In addition, the Dixie Belle S., which was set for Feb. 13, has now been rescheduled to Saturday, Feb. 20, the same day...

The Jockey Club of Canada's Graded Stakes Committee held its annual review of graded and listed stakes races in Canada. The number of graded stakes in Canada will decrease to 41 in 2021, due to individual racetracks choosing to place selected races on hold. Additionally, two races currently with black-type status--the Ontario Racing S. and the Woodbine Cares S.--will be upgraded to listed status. The GI Northern Dancer S., GIII Eclipse S., GII Nijinsky S. and the GII Play the King S. have all been placed on hold and will...

Every year, the Kentucky Downs stakes schedule seems to get richer and attract better horses. This year, there were 16 stakes worth a combined $8.6 million and many were won by horses that could have an impact at the Breeders' Cup. The stakes schedule is a source of pride among the track's management team, but also a source of frustration. Only five of the stakes are graded and those are all Grade III events, which the track's senior vice president and general manager Ted Nicholson called "dumbfounding." "It's frustrating," Nicholson...

The Sept. 2 With Anticipation S., rained off the turf at Saratoga and onto the main track, was immediately downgraded from Grade III status and to listed status per the policy of the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owner and Breeders Association. Upon review of the race, the AGSC has determined that the original Grade III status of the With Anticipation will not be reinstated for this renewal. The victorious Fire At Will (Declaration of War) is therefore credited with a listed victory, while Blame The Booze (Blame)...