As stakes change from Grade I to Grade III, the competition is steaming with the Arkansas Derby in the lead.

Lexington, KY (Sports Network) – The $1 million Arkansas Derby is one of three stakes that have been upgraded in status to Grade I for the 2010 racing season. The American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association announced its listing of U.S. Graded Stakes for 2010 following its annual grading session conducted December 2.

Joining the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park as new Grade I races are the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga and the Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs.

Five races were downgraded from Grade I to Grade II for 2010: Citation Handicap at Hollywood Park, Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash at Laurel Park, Go For Wand Handicap at Saratoga, John C. Mabee Stakes at Del Mar and Santa Maria Handicap at Santa Anita Park.

Grade I races for the new year will total 113, two fewer than in 2009.

Stakes races moving up to Grade II status are the American Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, Pocahontas Stakes at Churchill Downs, Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds and Sir Beaufort Stakes at Santa Anita Park.

Among the 10 races that have been downgraded from Grade II to Grade III in 2010 are Illinois Derby at Hawthorne Race Course, Ohio Derby at Thistledown and Tom Fool Handicap at Belmont Park.

Other stakes downgraded to Grade III are Bed O’ Roses Handicap at Aqueduct, Beverly Hills Handicap at Hollywood Park, Comely Stakes at Aqueduct, Jefferson Cup Stakes at Churchill Downs, La Prevoyante Handicap at Calder Race Course, Rampart Stakes at Gulfstream Park and Sunset Handicap at Hollywood Park.

The Breeders’ Cup Marathon tops the list of six races moved up to Grade III. The other stakes elevated are Cougar II Handicap at Del Mar, Ft. Lauderdale Stakes at Gulfstream Park, Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows, Monmouth Stakes at Monmouth Park and Sunland Derby at Sunland Park.

Eight races were demoted Grade III to Ungraded for 2010: Baldwin Stakes at Santa Anita, Barbaro Stakes at Delaware Park, Calder Derby at Calder Race Course, Cinema Handicap at Hollywood Park, Dallas Turf Cup at Lone Star Park, Miss Preakness at Pimlico, Next Move Stakes at Aqueduct and Stuyvesant Handicap at Aqueduct. The Frances A. Genter at Calder Race Course and Safely Kept Stales at Laurel Park were not eligible for grading in 2010.

The Committee reviewed 723 unrestricted U.S. stakes races with a purse of at least $75,000, and assigned graded status to 487 of them, two less than were graded in 2009.

This article appears as it was reported by SportsNetwork.com

Posted December 14th, 2009 under Gaming News. Tags: Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap, American Turf Stakes, Arkansas Derby, Bed O' Roses Handicap, Beverly Hills Handicap, Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, Churchill Downs, Citation Handicap, Clark Handicap, Comely Stakes, Cougar II Handicap, Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash, Ft. Lauderdale Stakes, Go For Wand Handicap, Illinois Derby, Iowa Derby, Jefferson Cup Stakes, John C. Mabee Stakes, La Prevoyante Handicap, Monmouth Stakes, Oaklawn Park, Ohio Derby, Pocahontas Stakes, Rampart Stakes, Risen Star Stakes, Santa Maria Handicap, Sports Network, Sunland Derby, Sunset Handicap, The American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, The Breeders' Cup Marathon, Tom Fool Handicap
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