Stephen Foster upgraded to Grade 1 but five lose that status including Woodward

The Stephen Foster Stakes has received an upgrade to Grade 1 status, while five races have lost their Grade 1 shine, including the Woodward Stakes, following the annual evaluation conducted by the American Graded Stakes Committee.

The AGSC, which is under the umbrella of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, conducted its annual grading session this week.

The committee reviewed 901 United States stakes races with a purse of at least $75,000, and assigned graded status to 440 of them, nine fewer than were graded in 2022, and Listed status to 206 races.

Four graded races were upgraded; one new Grade 1 and three new Grade 2 races were named; four new Grade 3 races were identified. Twelve new Listed races and one new Listed-restricted race were upgraded from non-listed black-type status.

The upgraded stakes are the following:

• One race from Grade 2 to Grade 1 status for 2023: the Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs.
• Three races were upgraded to Grade 2 status for 2023: the Beaumont Stakes and Franklin Stakes at Keeneland, and Ladies Sprint Stakes at Kentucky Downs.
• Four races were upgraded to Grade 3 status for 2023: the Manila Stakes at Belmont Park, Blame Stakes and Shawnee Stakes at Churchill Downs, and Music City Stakes at Kentucky Downs.
• Twelve races were upgraded to Listed status for 2023: the Plenty of Grace Stakes at Aqueduct; Audubon Stakes, Keertana Overnight Stakes and Rags to Riches Stakes at Churchill Downs; Daisycutter Handicap at Del Mar; Duncan F. Kenner Stakes and Mardi Gras Stakes at Fair Grounds; Mr. Prospector Stakes and Sapling Stakes at Monmouth Park; Lady of Shamrock Stakes at Santa Anita; and Bourbonette Oaks and John Battaglia Memorial Stakes at Turfway Park.
• One race was upgraded to Listed-restricted status for 2023, the Wickerr Stakes at Del Mar.

The downgraded stakes are the following:

• Five races were downgraded from Grade 1 to Grade 2 status for 2023: the Cigar Mile Handicap at Aqueduct; Woodward Stakes at Belmont Park; Clark Stakes at Churchill Downs; Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos; and Rodeo Drive Stakes at Santa Anita.
• Seven races were downgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 3 status for 2023: the Sorrento Stakes at Del Mar; Dinner Party Stakes at Pimlico, Monrovia Stakes, San Carlos Stakes, San Marcos Stakes and Santa Ynez Stakes at Santa Anita; and Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs.
• Twelve races were downgraded from Grade 3 to Listed status for 2023: the Nashua Stakes and Turnback the Alarm Handicap at Aqueduct; Athenia Stakes at Belmont Park; Kent Stakes at Delaware; Appleton Stakes and Tropical Turf Stakes at Gulfstream Park; Dr. James Penny Memorial Stakes at Parx; Allaire DuPont Distaff Stakes at Pimlico; Affirmed Stakes, Santa Barbara Stakes and Sweet Life Stakes at Santa Anita; and Bernard Baruch Handicap at Saratoga.
• Eleven races were downgraded from Listed to non-listed black-type status for 2023: the Garland of Roses Stakes and Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct; California Derby at Golden Gate Fields; Caesars Stakes at Indiana Grand; Stormy Blues Stakes at Laurel Park; The Very One Stakes at Pimlico; Karl Boyes Stakes at Presque Isle Downs; Baffle Stakes and Desert Code Stakes at Santa Anita; and Columbia Stakes and Lightning City Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

The Easy Goer Stakes at Belmont Park; Jefferson Cup Stakes at Churchill Downs; My Charmer Stakes and South Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park; Beverly J. Lewis Stakes at Los Alamitos; Super Derby at Louisiana Downs; Spring Fever Stakes at Oaklawn Park; and Fabulous Strike Stakes and Pennsylvania Governor's Cup Stakes at Penn National were not eligible for grading in 2023.

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