American Turf Stakes receives Grade 1 status as race upgrades and downgrades are revealed

Kentucky Derby day at Churchill Downs became even more prestigious on Wednesday as the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association's American Graded Stakes Committee announced an upgrade to Grade 1 status for one of its undercard races: the American Turf Stakes for three-year-olds.

In total, 957 United States stakes races with a purse of at least $75,000 were reviewed by the committee at their grading sessions. Graded status was awarded to 415 races, 14 fewer than in 2024, and Listed status was granted to 210 races.

Four Graded races were upgraded — one new Grade 1 and three new Grade 2s. 

Nine new Grade 3 races were identified and 12 new Listed races and one new Listed restricted race were upgraded from non-Listed black-type status.

Thirty-three Graded races were downgraded with one Grade 1, ten Grade 2 and 22 Grade 3 races being demoted. 21 Listed races were downgraded to NLBT status.

Inaugurated in 1992, the American Turf received Grade 3 status from the committee in 1998 and has been run as a Grade 2 since 2010. With the upgrade, the race that was contested for a $600,000 purse in 2024 becomes the fifth Grade 1 event on the Kentucky Derby card and the seventh to be hosted in Louisville, Kentucky, that weekend.

The AGSC aims to provide owners and breeders of thoroughbred horses with a reliable guide to the relative quality of thoroughbred bloodstock by identifying US races whose recent renewals have consistently attracted the highest quality competition.

Trikari: American Turf Stakes winner went on to Grade 1 success in the Belmont Derby

In 2024, the American Turf was won by Trikari, who won the Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes two starts later. Up to December 18, 13 of the 14 runners in this year's edition are stakes winners — eight at Graded level — including runner-up Formidable Man, who went on to win the Hollywood Derby at Del Mar in November. 

In the 2023 edition, future Grade 1 winners Far Bridge, Johannes and Carl Spackler finished second, fifth, and eighth respectively.

Churchill Downs received nine upgrades, more than double any other track. The Chicago Stakes, typically held in June, was upgraded to Grade 2 status while a trio of spring meeting stakes — the Aristides Stakes, Kelly's Landing Stakes and Mamzelle Stakes — were upgraded to Grade 3. Another four black-type stakes were upgraded to Listed status. The Cardinal Stakes, held during Churchill's autumn meeting, was downgraded from Grade 3 to Listed.

The total number of Grade 1 races in 2025 remains the same at 93 as the upgrade of the American Turf was countered with the downgrade of the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga, which has been a Grade 1 since 2010. The downgrade came despite the appearances of champions Jackie's Warrior and Elite Power in the winner's circle over the last three years.

The Vanderbilt was one of 15 stakes hosted on the New York Racing Association circuit to receive downgrades. The John A. Nerud Stakes, Pennine Ridge Stakes and True North Stakes dropped from Grade 2 to 3, and the formerly Grade 3 Withers Stakes, Dwyer Stakes, Go For Wand Stakes, Toboggan Stakes, Knickerbocker Stakes, Noble Damsel Stakes and Saranac Stakes all now have Listed status for 2025.

NYRA did receive five upgrades with the Jockey Club Derby Invitational Stakes improving to Grade 2 status and the Glen Cove Stakes, Winter Memories Stakes, Coronation Cup Stakes and Mahony Stakes all becoming Grade 3s.

The whole list can be seen here. 

For all the latest bloodstock and racing news from North America, visit Bloodhorse