Four races upgraded to Grade 1 status

The American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders

Association (TOBA) released the listing of U.S. graded stakes for 2006 during its

annual grading session meeting. The Committee reviewed 734

unrestricted stakes with a purse of at least $75,000, and assigned graded status

to 475, eight more than were graded in 2005.

Eleven races were upgraded, including four new Grade 1s -- the Clark H. at

Churchill Downs, Princess Rooney H. at Calder, Spinaway S. at Saratoga and Oak

Leaf S. at Oak Tree at Santa Anita. No races lost Grade 1 status for 2006.

Seven races were upgraded from Grade 3 to Grade 2 -- the Jefferson Cup S. at

Churchill, Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs, Jim Murray Memorial H. at Hollywood

Park, Bed o' Roses Breeders' Cup H. at Aqueduct, Jenny Wiley S. and Madison S. at Keeneland, and Ballston Spa Breeders' Cup H. at Saratoga. The Pan American H.

and Orchid H. at Gulfstream Park were downgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 3.

Twelve events were upgraded to Grade 3s in 2006, and three races lost their

graded status. The new Grade 3s are the Sham S., Sir Beaufort S. and Santa Paula

S. at Santa Anita, Fair Grounds Breeders' Cup H. at Fair Grounds, Dallas Turf

Cup H. at Lone Star Park, John B. Connally Breeders' Cup H. at Sam Houston Park,

Ack Ack H. at Hollywood, Kenny Noe Jr. H. and Stage Door Betty H. at Calder,

Bourbonette Breeders' Cup S. at Turfway Park, Arlington Oaks at Arlington and

Victory Ride S. at Saratoga.

The Flash S. at Belmont Park, Lafayette S. at Keeneland and Desert Stormer H.

at Hollywood are all no longer graded. The Laurel Futurity, a Grade 3 event in

2005, was not eligible for grading next year.