Colonial Turf Cup No Longer Graded

The decision by Colonial Downs to allow older horses to compete in the Colonial Turf Cup Stakes will result in the race losing its grade II status for 2011.

According to an announcement from the American Graded Stakes Committee, changing the conditions of the June 18 race from being restricted to 3-year-olds to make it open to 3-year-olds and upward is a “material change and therefore the committee considers the race a new race for grading purposes.”