Journalists Wandering Eyes Posted December 19, 2025 Journalists Posted December 19, 2025 The American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association presented its listing of U.S. Graded and Listed Stakes Races for calendar year 2026, the results of its annual grading session conducted Dec. 17 and 18. The committee reviewed 942 U.S. stakes races with a purse of at least $75,000, and assigned Graded status to 410 of them, five fewer than were graded in 2025, and Listed status to 211 races. Eleven Graded races were upgraded; one new Grade I and 10 new Grade II races were named; four new Grade III races were identified. Nine new Listed races and one new Listed-Restricted race were upgraded from non-Listed Black Type (NLBT) status. Thirteen Graded races were downgraded; two Grade I, five Grade II and six Grade III races were demoted. Six Listed races were downgraded to NLBT status. One race was upgraded from Grade II to Grade I status for 2026: the Ladies Turf Sprint S. at Kentucky Downs. Additionally, two races were downgraded from Grade I to Grade II status for 2026: the Franklin-Simpson S. at Kentucky Downs and Frank E. Kilroe Mile S. at Santa Anita Park. Ten races were upgraded to Grade II status for 2026: the Shawnee S. and Unbridled Sidney S. at Churchill Downs; Green Flash H. at Del Mar; Bryan Station S., Doubledogdare S., and Giant's Causeway S. at Keeneland; Ladies Turf S. and Nashville Derby Invitational S. at Kentucky Downs; Molly Pitcher S. at Monmouth Park; and Caress S. at Saratoga. For a complete listing of all graded and listed stakes for the 2025 season, click here. RACES UPGRADED FOR 2025: GRADE II TO GRADE I Ladies Turf Sprint S. at Kentucky Downs GRADE III TO GRADE II Shawnee S. at Churchill Downs Unbridled Sidney S. at Churchill Downs Green Flash H. at Del Mar Bryan Station S. at Keeneland Doubledogdare S. at Keeneland Giant's Causeway S. at Keeneland Ladies Turf S. at Kentucky Downs Nashville Derby Invitational S. at Kentucky Downs Molly Pitcher S. at Monmouth Park Caress S. at Saratoga LISTED TO GRADE III Hanshin S. at Churchill Downs Maxfield S. at Churchill Downs Indian Summer S. at Keeneland Limestone S. at Keeneland NEW LISTED RACES Autumn Days S. at Aqueduct Anchorage Overnight S. at Churchill Downs Fern Creek S. at Churchill Downs Leslie's Lady Overnight S. at Churchill Downs Jeff Hall Memorial Sprint S. at Ellis Park KY Downs Preview Ladies Turf Sprint S. at Ellis Park Myrtlewood S. at Keeneland Untapable S. at Kentucky Downs Holiday Inaugural S. at Turfway Park Note: One race was upgraded to Listed-Restricted status for 2026, Tranquility Lake S. at Del Mar. RACES DOWNGRADED FOR 2025: GRADE I TO GRADE II Franklin-Simpson S. at Kentucky Downs Frank E. Kilroe Mile S. at Santa Anita Park GRADE II TO GRADE III Fort Marcy S. at Belmont at Aqueduct Sands Point S. at Belmont at Aqueduct Gulfstream Park Mile S. at Gulfstream Park Joe Hernandez S. at Santa Anita Park Santa Maria S. at Santa Anita Park GRADE III TO LISTED Red Carpet S. at Del Mar Pucker Up S. at Ellis Park Greenwood Cup S. at Parx Racing Honeymoon S. at Santa Anita Park Las Virgenes S. at Santa Anita Park Palos Verdes S. at Santa Anita Park The post 410 U.S. Graded Stakes Marked For 2026–Five Fewer Graded Races, One New Grade I appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article Quote
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