The Under 20's Challenge will return for the upcoming winter and spring meets at Aqueduct Racetrack with two divisions: Division A for trainers with 11-20 stalls and Division B for trainers with 1-10 stalls.

The program, launched in 2018 and open to local trainers with 20 or fewer horses nationwide, will begin on Sunday, January 1, Opening Day of the Aqueduct winter meet which runs through Sunday, March 26. The Challenge will come to a close at the conclusion of the 19-day Big A spring meet, which spans Thursday, March 30 through Sunday, April 30.

The top six trainers in Division A will share a prize pool of $60,000 with the winner receiving $16,000. The top-five trainers in Division B will share a prize pool of $50,000 with the winner also receiving $16,000. Stall allotments for the 2023 Aqueduct winter/spring meets will be used to determine eligible trainers.

Trainers earn points based on their horses' performances in overnight races at Aqueduct from January 1 through the end of the Big A spring meet. Stakes races will not count for the purpose of this contest. Points will be tallied and records verified on May 30, and awards will be granted thereafter.

To retain eligibility in Division A, there can be no more than 20 horses on a trainer's roster at any given time, although a trainer's stable may grow above 20 horses through claiming activity. A trainer may replace a claimed horse who was on their roster with another claimed horse. After a horse is claimed, it will be added to the trainer's roster only at the trainer's request.

To retain eligibility in Division B, there can be no more than 10 horses on a trainer's roster at any given time, although a trainer's stable may grow above 10 horses through claiming activity. A trainer may replace a claimed horse who was on their roster with another claimed horse. After a horse is claimed, it will be added to the trainer's roster only at the trainer's request.

A horse that ends up on the stewards' list for poor performance will not earn the trainer points for that race. Horses that are running for 50 percent or less of the claiming price from their most recent start will only be eligible to earn 50 percent of the typical points for that race.

In addition, horses can only earn contest points for two races within a given 30-day time period. A horse may enter in additional races during that time frame but will not earn contest points for those additional races.

Contest Point Structure:

Dirt Races – All non-stakes races

1st Place – 6 points

2nd Place – 5 points

3rd Place – 4 points

4th Place – 3 points

5th Place – 2 points

Turf Races – All non-stakes races

1st Place – 5 points

2nd Place – 4 points

3rd Place – 3 points

4th Place – 2 points

5th Place – 1 point

Trainer Bonuses:

Division A (stalls 11-20) – Prize Pool: $60,000

1st Place – $16,000

2nd Place – $12,000

3rd Place – $10,000

4th Place – $9,000

5th Place – $7,000

6th Place – $6,000

Division B (stalls 1-10)– Prize Pool: $50,000

1st Place – $16,000

2nd Place – $12,000

3rd Place – $10,000

4th Place – $7,000

5th Place – $5,000

Deadlines:

·        December 29, 2022 – All contest applications must be in no later than 3:30 p.m.

·        December 31 – List of eligible contest trainers posted

·        January 1 – Contest begins

·        March 31 – No additional horses may be added to earn contest points (unless replacing a claimed or injured horse as outlined above)

·        April 30 – Contest ends

·        June 1 – Awards scheduled to be paid out

Past winners of the Under 20's Challenge:

2021-22 Aqueduct winter/spring meet – Oscar Barrera, III

2021 Belmont spring/summer – Mertkan Kantarmaci

2020-21 Aqueduct winter – Mertkan Kantarmaci

2019-20 Aqueduct winter – Eddie Barker/Mertkan Kantarmaci (tie)

2019 Belmont spring/summer – Mertkan Kantarmaci

2018-19 Aqueduct winter – Mertkan Kantarmaci

2018 Belmont spring/summer – Eddie Barker

For more information, please visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/horsemen.

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Kentucky Downs, located on the Kentucky-Tennessee border in Franklin, continued to add to its roster of graded stakes as the Mint Ladies Sprint was elevated to Grade 2 status and the newly promoted Grade 3 Music City for 3-year-old fillies provided the all-turf meet nine graded stakes for its seven-day run.

But track management acknowledged keen disappointment that Kentucky Downs still awaits being awarded its first Grade 1 stakes, those designated as the best in America.

“We've done everything expected of us to get one of our Grade 2 races across the finish line to Grade 1 stature. We put up the purse money, produced the field sizes, and got the performances,” said Kentucky Downs Vice President for Racing Ted Nicholson. “That said, we will double down in 2023 in our commitment to getting our stakes to the top. We are determined to be not just a popular destination for American horses, but we are going to step up our efforts to attract overseas horses.”

To lure more Grade 1 winners to its stakes program, Kentucky Downs last year committed to increasing the total purse available to $1 million, including Kentucky-bred purse supplements, for any of three stakes if a Grade I winner competed. That was the carrot that lured Grade 1 winners Campanelle and Dalika to Kentucky Downs, where they won the Ladies Sprint and Ladies Turf, respectively.

“I'm glad to see the Ladies Sprint become a well-deserved Grade 2 and the track gaining another graded stakes,” said Wesley Ward, who trained Stonestreet Stables' Campanelle and is a four-time leading trainer at Kentucky Downs. “But I sure think they're due for a Grade 1, just with all the Grade/Group 1-quality horses that I've run there. I know how tough their stakes are: We have brought several Royal Ascot winners to Kentucky Downs that have won and some have been beaten.”

Despite the disappointment of not getting a Grade 1, Nicholson said there is plenty for Kentucky Downs to celebrate with Friday's announcement of the 2023 graded stakes. The Ladies Sprint was one of only four existing graded stakes in the country to be promoted and one of the three bumped to a Grade 2. The Music City was among just four new Grade 3 races.

The 2023 Fan Duel Meet at Kentucky Downs will showcase four Grade 2 stakes. The others are the $1 million Kentucky Turf Cup for older horses at 1 1/2 miles, the $1 million FanDuel Turf Sprint, and the $600,000 Franklin-Simpson for 3-year-old sprinters.

Kentucky Downs will run Aug. 31 and Sept. 2, 3, 7, 9, 10 and 13 in 2023.

“Don't get us wrong: We're thrilled to get our fourth Grade 2 stakes, and the Ladies Sprint has just been a super race in recent years,” Nicholson said. “Now we've just got to get them to Grade 1 status.

“Certainly we're very pleased to have been awarded our eighth graded stakes in the past seven years. And it's very gratifying to gain graded status for such a young race as the Music City, which clearly has filled a gap on the national stakes schedule. It all speaks to the tremendous support we've gotten from owners and trainers.”

Kentucky Downs' first graded stakes was the 2001 Kentucky Turf Cup (G3). The track did not receive another graded stakes until 2017 with two.

Kentucky Downs is coming off another record-shattering meet with a record $80,175,928 wagered over seven days and part of another, with heavy rain forcing postponement of one weekend card and part of another. A record $17,863,177 was paid to horse owners in purses and Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund supplements.

Kentucky Downs' short meet had a giant-sized impact on the 2022 Breeders' Cup entries. Twenty-three horses who competed at Kentucky Downs, including 18 who ran this year, were entered among the 14 Breeders' Cup races Nov. 4-5 at Keeneland. To put that in perspective: Of the 177 horses entered for the Breeders' Cup, 10.73 percent ran at Kentucky Downs this year; 13 percent overall had run at the track at least once during the last three meets.

To crunch those numbers more: 16 horses among the 101 total entries — 15.8 percent — in the Breeders' Cup's seven turf races participated in the 2022 Kentucky Downs meet.

The Ascent Of Kentucky Downs' Graded Stakes Program:
2001 — Kentucky Turf Cup becomes a Grade 3
2017 — Ladies Turf becomes a Grade 3
FanDuel Turf Sprint becomes a Grade 3
2018 — Ladies Sprint becomes a Grade 3
2019 — Franklin-Simpson becomes a Grade 3
2021 — WinStar Mint Million becomes a Grade 3
Calumet Turf Cup becomes a Grade 2
Franklin-Simpson becomes a Grade 2
2022 — Big Ass Fans Dueling Grounds Derby becomes a Grade 3
AGS Ladies Marathon becomes a Grade 3
FanDuel Turf Sprint becomes a Grade 2
2023 — The Mint Ladies Sprint becomes a Grade 2
Nelson's Green Brier Tennessee Whiskey Music City becomes a Grade 3

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A larger-than-life mural for a horse of a lifetime. That's what awaits fans on Santa Anita's Classic Meet opening day, Monday, Dec. 26, as presumptive 2022 Horse of the Year Flightline will be honored with the unveiling of a spectacular mural at the Arcadia, Calif. track.

The mural depicts the undefeated son of Tapit winning last year's Malibu Stakes (G1) by 11 ½ lengths, which served as a precursor to an unforgettable 4-year-old campaign that culminated with an 8 1/4-length triumph in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland Nov. 5.

Unbeaten in six starts, Flightline was retired following his Classic win to stand stud in 2023 at Lane's End in Versailles, Kentucky, but he will be honored for the tremendous racehorse that he was with a Flightline Retirement Celebration on opening day that will include the unveiling of the mural, located directly below Santa Anita's signature façade in the track's Grandstand breezeway.

Last year's Malibu winner will also be feted with a Flightline Print giveaway, as his jockey and trainer, Flavien Prat and John Sadler, will be on-hand to sign a number of prints in front of Santa Anita's Kingsbury Fountain on opening day from 9:45 to 10:15 a.m. (PT). (A total of 2,000 prints will be available on a first come, first served basis).

The Flightline mural has been created by renowned muralist Jonas Never, who has also produced a number of other sports-themed murals across metro Los Angeles.

In addition to the Flightline Mural, fans will also be treated to a dynamic color mural celebrating the launch of Santa Anita's newest food venue, Los Caballeros, which now occupies center stage in the Grandstand breezeway and will offer fans fresh tacos and a wide variety of beers at the upcoming Classic Meet.

A dynamic rendering with amazing depth and color, the Los Caballeros mural was conceived and drawn by Ever Galvez, 40, who grew up in nearby Fullerton and graduated with a degree in Traditional Animation from Cal State Fullerton.

“I've been doing murals for the past 15 years and I started doing street painting festivals, all over,” said Galvez on Friday afternoon.  “This has been a fun project here at Santa Anita I'm hoping everyone really likes it.”

Galvez also noted that he's created murals not only in the Los Angeles area, but in other states such as Indiana, Oregon and in western Canada as well.

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The American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association today presented its listing of U.S. Graded and Listed Stakes Races for calendar year 2023, the results of its annual grading session conducted Dec. 13 and 14.

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 were graded 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 S. at Churchill Downs.

Five races were downgraded from Grade 1 to Grade 2 status for 2023: the Cigar Mile H. at Aqueduct; Woodward S. at Belmont Park; Clark S. at Churchill Downs; Starlet S. at Los Alamitos Race Course; and Rodeo Drive S. at Santa Anita Park.

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

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

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

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

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

One race was upgraded to Listed-Restricted status for 2023: the Wickerr S. at Del Mar.

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

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

Following is a summary breakdown of all grade levels and a complete list of all upgraded and downgraded U.S. races for 2023 as well as the complete list of 2023 Graded and Listed stakes.

2023 Gr.  Stakes          Number     % Graded    %Eligible     Change from 2022

Grade I                              97            22.0%                                       -4

Grade II                           135            30.7%                                         –

Grade III                          208            47.3%                                       -5

All Graded                       440                                48.8%

Listed                              193                                21.4%

Listed – Restricted              13                                  1.5%

Non-Listed Eligible          255                                28.3%

All Gr., L & NLE Races   901

TOBA American Graded Stakes Committee

Summary of Decisions Made at December 13 and 14, 2022 Grading Session

RACES UPGRADED FOR 2023:

Two-Year-Old Fillies

Rags to Riches S.                                                 (Churchill Downs)                               non-Listed Black Type to Listed

Three-Year-Old Fillies

Beaumont S.                                                         (Keeneland)                                          Grade 3 to Grade 2

Music City S. (T)                                                 (Kentucky Downs)                              Listed to Grade 3

Bourbonette Oaks                                               (Turfway Park)                                    non-Listed Black Type to Listed

Lady of Shamrock S. (T)                                    (Santa Anita Park)                               non-Listed Black Type to Listed

Older Fillies and Mares

Franklin S. (T)                                                      (Keeneland)                                          Grade 3 to Grade 2

Ladies Sprint S. (T)                                             (Kentucky Downs)                              Grade 3 to Grade 2

Shawnee S.                                                            (Churchill Downs)                               Listed to Grade 3

Daisycutter H. (T)                                                (Del Mar)                                              non-Listed Black Type to Listed

Keertana Overnight S. (T)                                  (Churchill Downs)                               non-Listed Black Type to Listed

Mardi Gras S. (T)                                                (Fair Grounds)                                      non-Listed Black Type to Listed

Plenty of Grace S. (T)                                         (Aqueduct)                                            non-Listed Black Type to Listed

Two-Year-Olds

Sapling S.                                                              (Monmouth Park)                                non-Listed Black Type to Listed

Three-Year-Olds

Manila S. (T)                                                        (Belmont Park)                                    Listed to Grade 3

Audubon S. (T)                                                    (Churchill Downs)                               non-Listed Black Type to Listed

John Battaglia Memorial S.                               (Turfway Park)                                    non-Listed Black Type to Listed

Older Horses

Stephen Foster S.                                                 (Churchill Downs)                               Grade 2 to Grade 1

Blame S.                                                                (Churchill Downs)                               Listed to Grade 3

Duncan F. Kenner S. (T)                                    (Fair Grounds)                                      non-Listed Black Type to Listed

Mr. Prospector S.                                                 (Monmouth Park)                                non-Listed Black Type to Listed

Wickerr S. (T)                                                      (Del Mar)                                              non-Listed Black Type to Listed-R

RACES DOWNGRADED FOR 2023:

Two-Year-Old Fillies

Starlet S.                                                                (Los Alamitos Race Course)             Grade 1 to Grade 2

Sorrento S.                                                            (Del Mar)                                              Grade 2 to Grade 3

Three-Year-Old Fillies

Santa Ynez S.                                                       (Santa Anita Park)                               Grade 2 to Grade 3

Sweet Life S. (T)                                                 (Santa Anita Park)                               Grade 3 to Listed

Stormy Blues S. (T)                                             (Laurel Park)                                        Listed to non-Listed Black Type

Beverly J. Lewis S.                                              (Los Alamitos Race Course)             not eligible

Older Fillies and Mares

Rodeo Drive S. (T)                                              (Santa Anita Park)                               Grade 1 to Grade 2

Monrovia S. (T)                                                   (Santa Anita Park)                               Grade 2 to Grade 3

Allaire DuPont Distaff S.                                   (Pimlico)                                                Grade 3 to Listed

Athenia S. (T)                                                       (Belmont Park)                                    Grade 3 to Listed

Dr. James Penny Memorial S. (T)                    (Parx Racing)                                       Grade 3 to Listed

Santa Barbara S. (T)                                            (Santa Anita Park)                               Grade 3 to Listed

Turnback the Alarm H.                                      (Aqueduct)                                            Grade 3 to Listed

Garland of Roses S.                                             (Aqueduct)                                            Listed to non-Listed Black Type

Lightning City S. (T)                                           (Tampa Bay Downs)                           Listed to non-Listed Black Type

The Very One S. (T)                                           (Pimlico)                                                Listed to non-Listed Black Type

My Charmer S. (T)                                              (Gulfstream Park)                                not eligible

South Beach S. (T)                                              (Gulfstream Park)                                not eligible

Spring Fever S.                                                    (Oaklawn Park)                                    not eligible

Two-Year-Olds

Nashua S.                                                              (Aqueduct)                                            Grade 3 to Listed

Three-Year-Olds

Tampa Bay Derby                                               (Tampa Bay Downs)                           Grade 2 to Grade 3

Affirmed S.                                                           (Santa Anita Park)                               Grade 3 to Listed

Kent S. (T)                                                            (Delaware Park)                                   Grade 3 to Listed

Baffle S. (T)                                                          (Santa Anita Park)                               Listed to non-Listed Black Type

Caesars S. (T)                                                       (Horseshoe Indianapolis)                   Listed to non-Listed Black Type

California Derby                                                  (Golden Gate Fields)                           Listed to non-Listed Black Type

Columbia S.                                                          (Tampa Bay Downs)                           Listed to non-Listed Black Type

Desert Code S. (T)                                               (Santa Anita Park)                               Listed to non-Listed Black Type

Jerome S.                                                               (Aqueduct)                                            Listed to non-Listed Black Type

Super Derby                                                          (Louisiana Downs)                              not eligible

Easy Goer S.                                                         (Belmont Park)                                    not eligible

Jefferson Cup S. (T)                                            (Churchill Downs)                               not eligible

Older Horses

Cigar Mile H.                                                       (Aqueduct)                                            Grade 1 to Grade 2

Clark S.                                                                  (Churchill Downs)                               Grade 1 to Grade 2

Woodward S.                                                        (Belmont Park)                                    Grade 1 to Grade 2

Dinner Party S. (T)                                              (Pimlico)                                                Grade 2 to Grade 3

San Carlos S.                                                        (Santa Anita Park)                               Grade 2 to Grade 3

San Marcos S. (T)                                                (Santa Anita Park)                               Grade 2 to Grade 3

Appleton S. (T)                                                    (Gulfstream Park)                                Grade 3 to Listed

Bernard Baruch H. (T)                                        (Saratoga)                                             Grade 3 to Listed

Tropical Turf S. (T)                                             (Gulfstream Park)                                Grade 3 to Listed

Karl Boyes S.                                                       (Presque Isle Downs)                          Listed to non-Listed Black Type

Fabulous Strike S.                                               (Penn National)                                    not eligible

Pennsylvania Governor's Cup S. (T)               (Penn National)                                    not eligible

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