Woodbine's Jacques Cartier Stakes upgraded to Grade 3

The Jockey Club of Canada’s Graded Stakes Committee recently increased the number of graded stakes in Canada this year from 45 to 46 at its annual review.

The Jacques Cartier Stakes at Woodbine, which was won in each of the past two years by 2017 Canadian Horse of the Year Pink Lloyd, was upgraded from listed to Grade 3 status.

The Canadian Derby has maintained Grade 3 status, despite decreasing in distance from 1 3/8 miles to 1 1/4 miles to accommodate its new venue at Century Mile in Edmonton.

Two added-money events at Hastings were downgraded from listed status to black type, the Monashee and Lt. Governors.

The committee bases its decisions on the cumulative North American Race Committee figures for five consecutive years, and the most recent black type Race Quality Scores.

All seven Grade 1 stakes in the country are scheduled to be run at Woodbine.