See which 2023 stakes have gained and lost Grade 1 status

The American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association on Friday presented its listing of U.S. graded and listed stakes races for 2023, the results of its annual grading session conducted Tuesday and Wednesday.

The committee reviewed 901 U.S. stakes races with a purse of at least $75,000, and assigned graded status to 440 of them, nine fewer than  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 was upgraded from non-listed black type status.

One race was upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1 status for 2023: the Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs.

Five races were downgraded from Grade 1 to Grade 2 status for 2023: the Cigar Mile Handicap at Aqueduct, the Woodward at Belmont Park, the Clark at Churchill Down, the Starlet at Los Alamitos and the Rodeo Drive at Santa Anita.

Three races were upgraded to Grade 2 status for 2023: the Beaumont  and Franklin at Keeneland; and the Ladies Sprint at Kentucky Downs.

Seven races were downgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 3 status for 2023: the Sorrento at Del Mar; the Dinner Party at Pimlico; the Monrovia, San Carlos, San Marcos and Santa Ynez at Santa Anita; and the Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs.

Four races were upgraded to Grade 3 status for 2023: the Manila at Belmont Park, the Blame and Shawnee at Churchill Downs and the Music City at Kentucky Downs.

Twelve races were downgraded from Grade 3 to listed status for 2023: the Nashua and Turnback the Alarm Handicap at Aqueduct; the Athenia at Belmont Park; the Kent at Delaware Park; the Appleton and Tropical Turf at Gulfstream Park; the Dr. James Penny Memorial at Parx; the Allaire DuPont Distaff at Pimlico; the Affirmed, Santa Barbara and Sweet Life at Santa Anita Park; and the Bernard Baruch Handicap at Saratoga.

Twelve races were upgraded to listed status for 2023: the Plenty of Grace at Aqueduct; the Audubon, Keertana Overnight and Rags to Riches at Churchill Downs; the Daisycutter Handicap at Del Mar; the Duncan F. Kenner and Mardi Gras at Fair Grounds; the Mr. Prospector and Sapling at Monmouth; the Lady of Shamrock at Santa Anita; and the Bourbonette Oaks and John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway Park.

One race was upgraded to listed-restricted status for 2023: the Wickerr at Del Mar.

Eleven races were downgraded from listed to non-listed black type status for 2023: the Garland of Roses and Jerome at Aqueduct; the California Derby at Golden Gate Fields; the Caesars at Horseshoe Indianapolis; the Stormy Blues at Laurel Park; The Very One at Pimlico; the Karl Boyes at Presque Isle Downs; the Baffle and Desert Code at Santa Anita; and the Columbia and Lightning City at Tampa Bay.

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