410 U.S. Graded Stakes Marked For 2026–Five Fewer Graded Races, One New Grade I

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