Slideshow: Dynaformer Retrospective
Dynaformer sired 25 Grade I winners, 10 Grade II winners, 31 Grade III winners and numerous other stakes winners following his racing career. view slideshow
Graded Stakes
News, Articles, Videos and other content about Graded Stakes
Hong Kong Stakes Opened to Overseas Horses
The Hong Kong Jockey Club will offer 10 international group I races during its 2014-15 racing season and has increased total purses 10%.
Cyclometer Wins Scratch-Marred Los Angeles
Cyclometer, owned and bred by trainer Bruce Headley and Irwin and Andrew Molasky, made short work of two other foes in a scratch-marred $92,000 Los Angeles Handicap (gr. III) at Santa Anita Park May 26.
Contentious Group Entered for Pimlico Special
A solid, evenly matched field of nine, including five graded stakes winners, was entered for the $300,000 Pimlico Special Stakes (gr. III) at Pimlico Race Course May 16.
Fiftyshadesofhay Back On Track in Ruffian
Favored Fiftyshadesofhay, winless in her last five starts, got back in the win column with a come-from-behind victory in the $250,000 Ruffian Stakes (gr. II) at Belmont Park May 11.
Judy the Beauty Looks Tough in Humana Distaff
Owner/trainer Wesley Ward's Judy the Beauty, a seven-time winner who never has finished worse than third in 15 starts, eyes consecutive grade I victories in the $300,000 Humana Distaff Stakes at Churchill May 3.
Iowa Stallion Rule Change Called Positive
Iowa has removed a restriction requiring Iowa-registered stallions to be owned by in-state residents, and breeders believe the legislative change with foster growth in the program.
Palace Malice Returns a Winner in GP Handicap
Dogwood Stable's Palace Malice, on the shelf since an even sixth-place finish in the 2013 Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), showed no signs of rust with a gritty victory in the $250,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap (gr. II) March 8.
America's Best Racing Launches Mobile App
A mobile app launched by Equibase in 2010 has been reissued with the America's Best Racing brand. It allows racing fans to view the results and video replays for graded stakes.
Canada's Nearctic Stakes Downgraded
The Jockey Club of Canada's Graded Stakes Committee held its annual review of the graded and listed stakes in Canada and while the number of graded stakes in Canada remains unchanged at 43 there is one notable downgrade.
Prairie Meadows Ups Minimum Open Stakes Purse
Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino will boost the standard minimum purse for unrestricted stakes to $75,000 when its Thoroughbred meet runs April 18 to Aug. 9.
Calder Cancels La Prevoyante Handicap
Calder Casino & Race Course said Dec. 23 the grade III La Prevoyante Handicap on the grass, scheduled for Dec. 28, has been canceled.
Giving 'L' Legitimacy - Eric Mitchell
Evaluation of listed stakes is in full swing for 2014. read blog
Eight Stakes Elevated in Status for 2014
- By Tom LaMarra
- Racing, Northeast Region, Midwest Region, Southeast Region, Southwest Region, West Region, Kentucky, Mid-Atlantic
Eight stakes were elevated in or to graded status and 11 were downgraded for 2014 during the meeting of the American Graded Stakes Committee Dec. 4 in Lexington.
Minimum Stakes Purse to Increase at Aqueduct
The minimum stakes purse for the 2014 winter meet at Aqueduct Racetrack has been increased to $100,000 from $75,000, the New York Racing Association announced Dec. 4.
Wine Princess Goes Out With Falls City Win
Becky Winemiller's Wine Princess again proved her affinity for Churchill Downs with a strong victory in the $150,000 Falls City Handicap (gr. II) Nov. 28 at the Kentucky track.
Shadwell Turf Mile, Bourbon Retain Grades
The American Graded Stakes Committee said it has left intact the original grades of two off-the-turf stakes at Keeneland the weekend of Oct. 5-6.
Tamarando Rallies to Take Del Mar Futurity
California-bred Tamarando rallied from well off the pace to capture the Del Mar Futurity (gr. I) for 2-year-olds on the Polytrack at Del Mar Sept. 4.
Yellow Ribbon Features Evenly Matched Group
Ten fillies and mares have been entered in what appears to be a wide-open edition of the Yellow Ribbon Handicap (gr. IIT) at Del Mar Sept. 2.
Minimum Purse for Graded Stakes to be Raised
The minimum purse for grade I and grade II stakes will be raised by $50,000 for 2014. An increase for grade III stakes may be made in 2015.
National Stakes Conditions Tool
Search the Thoroughbred national stakes race conditions in our NSC online tool! Use Tool
The Claiming Crown to Expand to $1 Million
Total purses for The Claiming Crown of 2013 are expected to reach $1 million and the program expanded to eight races. The program will likely be run for a second year in a row at Gulfstream Park.
Overanalyze Hopes to Rebound in WV Derby
Repole Stable's Overanalyze will seek to bounce back after a couple of uncharacteristic efforts when he faces eight other 3-year-olds in the $750,000 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort Aug. 3.
Departing, Overanalyze Eyeing WV Derby
Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider's Departing and Repole Stable's Overanalyze are among the expected starters for the $750,000 West Virginia Derby (gr. II) at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort Aug. 3.
Game On Dude, Ron the Greek in CT Classic
Game On Dude and Ron the Greek, two of the top older horses in training, are among the seven horses entered in the $1.5 million Charles Town Classic (gr. II) April 20.
Justin Phillip Wins Count Fleet at Oaklawn
Zayat Stables' Justin Phillip rallied in the stretch to win the $250,000 Count Fleet Sprint Stakes (gr. III) at Oaklawn Park April 13.
Game On Dude Among 52 CT Classic Nominees
Game On Dude, second in the Charles Town Classic (gr. II) in 2011, is among the 52 nominees for and an expected entrant in this year's $1.5 million race at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races April 20.
Keeneland Expects Full Gate for Blue Grass
When entries for the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) for 3-year-olds are taken April 10, Keeneland officials are expecting a full field of 14.
Delaware Handicap, Hopeful Now Grade I
The Delaware Handicap at Delaware Park and Three Chimneys Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga Race Course have been granted grade I status by the American Graded Stakes Committee, which met Nov. 28 in Lexington.
No Lack of Intrigue in Packed Juvenile Turf
Five European colts sporting excellent form will face nine North American colts in a full field for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. IT) at Santa Anita Park Nov. 3.
Starformer Relishes Turf Course at Delaware
Juddmonte Farm's Starformer, far back in a Churchill Downs allowance race on the dirt in her last start, returned to the turf to win the $200,375 Robert G. Dick Memorial Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Delaware Park July 14.
Team Tackles Tougher on Delaware Park Turf
Lewis Schaffel, Jim Collins, and Joel Schwartz' Team, winner of three of four starts this year, will make her stakes debut July 14 in the $200,000 Robert G. Dick Memorial Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Delaware Park.
Master Rick Back to Two Turns in Matt Winn
Richard Davis' Master Rick, far back in the one-turn Peter Pan Stakes (gr. II) in his last start May 12, returns to two turns at Churchill Downs June 16 in the $100,000 Matt Winn Stakes (gr. III) for 3-year-olds.
AGSC Restates Desire for Salix Ban in Stakes
- By Tom LaMarra
- Kentucky, TOBA
In advance of an expected vote by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission June 13, the American Graded Stakes Committee reaffirmed its desire to ban all race-day medication in graded stakes for 2-year-olds.
Trinniberg Cuts Back in Woody Stephens Stakes
Shivananda Racing's Trinniberg will cut back to a more favorable distance June 9 in the $400,000 Woody Stephens Stakes (gr. II) for 3-year-olds at Belmont Park, but he could have his hands full.
Cotillion Joins PA Derby as $1 Million Stakes
Parx Racing has increased the purse of the grade I Cotillion Stakes for 3-year-old fillies to $1 million and scheduled it on the same day as the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II) for 3-year-olds.
La Gran Bailadora Back for More at Keeneland
Tracy Farmer's La Gran Bailadora, fifth in last year's Hilliard Lyons Doubledogdare Stakes (gr. III) after a slow start, will give it another try April 20 in the 1 1/16-mile stakes for fillies and mares at Keeneland.
Full Field Looms for $1M Charles Town Classic
It appears the $1 million Charles Town Classic, which ended up being a key race in the older horse division last year, will attract a full field of 10 for its fourth running April 14 at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races.
Approval of Bute Rule Slowed in Louisiana
A Louisiana Senate committee rejected an emergency rule approved by the Louisiana State Racing Commission to lower the testing threshold level for phenylbutazone from 5 micrograms per milliliter to 2 micrograms.
Orfevre Wins Arima Kinen at Nakayama
Sunday Racing Co.'s Orfevre, who this year became the seventh winner of Japan's Triple Crown, won the $4.89 million Arima Kinen (Jpn-I) at Nakayama Racecourse Dec. 25.
$1M Classic Tops Charles Town Stakes Slate
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races has announced a 28-race stakes program valued at $3.59 million for 2012.
Double the Pleasure: Michael Pender (blog)
Apparently trainer Michael Pender felt it took too long for Jeranimo and Ultimate Eagle to win graded stakes a week apart in October, so he sent them both back out to take graded events on consecutive days in November. read blog
Four New Grade I Stakes for 2012
Nine stakes were upgraded and four achieved graded status for 2012 after a review by the American Graded Stakes Committee Nov. 30-Dec. 1. The panel reviewed 659 unrestricted stakes in the U.S. worth at least $75,000.
Clark at Churchill Has Breeders' Cup Look
This year's Breeders' Cup may be a memory, but no fewer than five horses that competed in the 2011 World Championships are back at Churchill Downs for the $500,000 Clark Handicap (gr. I) Nov. 25.
Shackleford Hopes for Rebound in Indy Derby
Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Shackleford will seek to get back in the winner's circle Oct. 1 in the $500,000 Indiana Derby (gr. II), his final race before an expected start in the Breeders' Cup.
UAE Outlines 2011-12 Stakes Schedule
The United Arab Emirates will offer 26 group races, seven of them group I, during its 2011-12 racing season.
'Listed' Races to Face Annual Quality Review
- By Ron Mitchell
- Racing, Kentucky, TOBA
The group that oversees black-type status for sales catalogs in the U.S. and Canada has announced that "Listed" races will be reviewed on an annual basis to determine if any should be downgraded, based on quality.
Turf Monster Tops Lucrative Parx Program
Led by the grade III Turf Monster Handicap, Parx Racing in Pennsylvania will card three lucrative stakes worth a total of $850,000 on Labor Day, Sept. 5.
Santa Anita Fall Meet Offers 13 Graded Stakes
Santa Anita Park will offer 13 graded stakes--six of them grade I-- during its 24-day fall meet that runs from Sept. 30-Nov. 6.
No Salix in Graded Stakes for 2YOs in 2012
- By Tom LaMarra
The American Graded Stakes Committee said Aug. 10 it will employ a pilot program that will ban race-day medications -- primarily the anti-bleeding drug Salix -- in graded 2-year-old stakes in 2012.
Most Popular Stories
- Positive Outlook for Fasig-Tipton Yearlings
- Massachusetts Sire Dr. Rockett Gets First Win
- F-T Kentucky: Hip 154 Cowboy Cal--Refugee
- Fasig-Tipton Kentucky: July 2014 Sale Preview
- F-T July: 'Chrome' Asst. Trainer Alan Sherman
- Jockey David Mello Registers 1,000th Win
- Belle Gallantey Steals Delaware Handicap
- Featured Horse Profile: Ben's Cat
- Doinghardtimeagain Grinds Out Great Lady M.
- Shakin It Up Retired, To Stand at Spendthrift
