The American Graded Stakes Committee has reviewed last weekend's five graded stakes races that were scheduled to run over the turf at the Belmont at the Big A meet and has determined that the original status will not be reinstated this year, the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association said in a series of press releases Thursday.
The Oct. 7 and 8 renewal of the GIII Jockey Club Derby Invitational S., the GIII Belmont Turf Sprint S., the GIII Futurity S., the GIII Matron S. and the GIII Noble Damsel S., were all taken off the Aqueduct turf course and switched to the main track due to weather. That move automatically downgraded them to Listed status and they were conducted as Listed stakes races.
According to the American Graded Stakes Committee policy, the winners of those races are therefore credited with a Listed win, and the second and third-place finishers are credited with Listed placings.
When a graded turf race is moved to the dirt after the closing of nominations it is automatically downgraded one level for that running only.
The American Graded Stakes Committee will, however, promptly review the running of any race that is automatically downgraded as a result of this policy and may reinstate its former status.
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