Canada Issues Graded Stakes Slate for 2002

The Canadian Graded Stakes Committee has released a list of 40 graded stakes scheduled at racetracks in Canada this year. There will be five grade I events, 10 grade II events, and 25 grade III events.

In changes for 2002, the Niagara Breeders' Cup was upgraded to grade I, and the Nassau Stakes was upgraded to grade II. The Grey Breeders' Cup and Mazarine Breeders' Cup were downgraded to grade II, and the Marine and Eclipse Stakes were downgraded to grade III. The Speed to Spare Stakes was dropped from grade III to listed.

To qualify for Canadian grading, races must have a minimum purse of $125,000 to qualify for grade I, $100,000 for grade II, and $75,000 for grade III. Here's the list of graded stakes, by division:

Two-Year-Old Fillies
Mazarine Breeders' Cup Stakes (Woodbine) grade I

Two-Year-Old Fillies (Turf)
Natalma Stakes (Woodbine) grade III

Two-Year-Olds
Grey Breeders' Cup Stakes (Woodbine) grade II

Two-Year-Olds (Turf)
Summer Stakes (Woodbine) grade II

Three-Year-Old Fillies
Selene Stakes (Woodbine) grade I
British Columbia Breeders' Cup Oaks (Hastings Park) grade III

Three-Year-Old Fillies Sprint
Duchess Stakes (Woodbine) grade III

Three-Year-Olds
Marine Stakes (Woodbine) grade III
Alberta Derby (Stampede Park) grade III
Manitoba Derby (Assiniboia Downs) grade III
The Canadian Derby (Northlands Park) grade III
Col. R.S. McLaughlin Stakes (Woodbine) grade III
British Columbia Derby (Hastings) grade II

Three-Year-Olds (Turf)
Toronto Cup Stakes (Woodbine) grade III

Three-Year-Olds and Up, Fillies and Mares
Ballerina Breeders' Cup Stakes (Hastings) grade III
Maple Leaf Stakes (Woodbine) grade III

Three-Year-Olds and Up, Fillies and Mares (Turf)
Nassau Stakes (Woodbine) grade II
Dance Smartly Stakes (Woodbine) grade III
Canadian Stakes (Woodbine) grade II
E.P. Taylor Stakes (Woodbine) grade I

Three-Year-Olds and up, Fillies and Mares (Sprint)
Bessarabian Stakes (Woodbine) grade III

Three-Year-Olds and up, Fillies and Mares (Turf Sprint)
Royal North Stakes (Woodbine) grade III

Three-Year-Olds and Up
Dominion Day Stakes (Woodbine) grade III
Lt. Governors' Stakes (Hastings) grade III
Durham Cup Stakes (Woodbine) grade III
The Premier's (Hastings) grade III
Autumn Stakes (Woodbine) grade III

Three-Year-Olds and Up (Turf)
King Edward Breeders' Cup (Woodbine) grade II
Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy (Woodbine) grade II
Niagara Breeders' Cup Stakes (Woodbine) grade I
Atto Mile (Woodbine) grade I
Canadian International (Woodbine) grade I
Sky Classic Stakes (Woodbine) grade II

Three-Year-Olds and Up (Sprint)
Nearctic Stakes (Woodbine) grade II (turf)
Play the King Stakes (Woodbine) grade III (turf)
Highlander Stakes (Woodbine) grade III

Four-Year-Olds and Up, Fillies and Mares (Sprint)
George C. Hendrie Stakes (Woodbine) grade III

Four-Year-Olds and Up
Eclipse Stakes (Woodbine) grade III

Four-Year-Olds and Up (Turf)
Connaught Cup Stakes (Woodbine) grade III

Four-Year-Olds and Up (Sprint)
Vigil Stakes (Woodbine) grade III