[horseofcourse]

AS long as the criteria remains "graded stakes earnings" it really means nothing what grade they are as long as they're graded. All that matters with this announcement is the Southwest is now graded which pays dividends to the Oaklawn horses. For horses and trainers trying to get into the Ky Derby it is meaningless...the grade of the Ark Derby. I guess for breeding purposes if the Ark Derby becomes the only big race said horse wins it matters as he will not have his grade 1. That is the only "disadvantage" to the Ark Derby being a grade 1?? For me this actually makes the Ark Derby better keeping it a grade 2. But the fact the best horses in Arkansas the last 4 years were Curlin, Lawyer Ron, Afleet Alex and Smarty Jones tells me all I need to know. Regardless of what the races are graded, Oaklawn gets high quality horses pretty consistently on the Derby trail.