Woodford Stakes
Horse race
The Woodford Stakes is a Grade II American thoroughbred horse race for horses age three and older over a distance of 5+ 1 ⁄2 furlongs on the turf held annually in early October at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky during the fall meeting.
History
The event was inaugurated as the Nureyev Stakes on 11 October 1997 and was won by the Calumet Farm owned Sesaro, sired by the champion Danzig and ridden by Shane Sellers drawing clear near the finishing line to won by 3 ⁄4 length in a time of 1:02.96.[ 1]
The event was named in honor of the Champion sire, Nureyev .[ 2]
In 2003 the event was renamed for Woodford County, Kentucky . It was known as the Woodford County Stakes until 2006 when it became the Woodford Stakes .[ 3]
Previously a Listed race, it was upgraded to Grade III status for 2009 and then Grade II in 2017 by the American Graded Stakes Committee .[ 4]
In recent years the race has gained prominence as a preparatory race for the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint since it usually held about three to four weeks to the event. In 2015 the event was run off the turf due to inclement weather and was won by Amelia's Wild Ride by the event's longest winning margin to date of 2+ 1 ⁄2 lengths defeating Mongolian Saturday.[ 5] Mongolian Saturday proceeded to win the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint on his next start at Keeneland. The following year, 2016, Mongolian Saturday resumed after a three-month spell winning the Woodford Stakes.
Records
Speed record
Margins
2+ 1 ⁄2 lengths – Amelia's Wild Ride (2015)
Most wins
2 – Morluc (2000, 2001)
2 – Sgt. Bert (2005, 2006)
2 – Silver Timber (2009, 2010)
2 – Havelock (2011, 2013)
2 – Bucchero (2017, 2018)
2 – Golden Pal (2021, 2022)
Most wins by an owner
Most wins by a jockey
Most wins by a trainer
Winners
Year
Winner
Age
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Distance
Time
Purse
Grade
Ref
Woodford Stakes
2024
Our Shot
5
Luis Saez
John P. Terranova II
Gatsas Stables, Steven Schoenfeld & John P. Terranova II
5+ 1 ⁄2 furlongs
1:02.36
$320,463
II
[ 6]
2023
Arzak
5
Joel Rosario
Michael Trombetta
Sonata Stable
5+ 1 ⁄2 furlongs
1:01.65
$337,875
II
[ 7]
2022
Golden Pal
4
Irad Ortiz Jr.
Wesley A. Ward
Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor & Westerburg
5+ 1 ⁄2 furlongs
1:01.39
$315,175
II
[ 8]
2021
Golden Pal
3
John Velazquez
Wesley A. Ward
Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor & Westerburg
5+ 1 ⁄2 furlongs
1:03.12
$200,000
II
[ 9]
2020
Leinster
5
Luis Saez
George R. Arnold II
Amy E. Dunne, Brenda Miley, Westrock Stables & Jean Wilkinson
5+ 1 ⁄2 furlongs
1:01.59
$150,000
II
[ 10]
2019
Stubbins
3
Joel Rosario
Doug F. O'Neill
McShane Racing
5+ 1 ⁄2 furlongs
1:01.44
$200,000
II
[ 11]
2018
Bucchero
6
Fernando De La Cruz
Tim Glyshaw
Ironhorse Racing Stable
5+ 1 ⁄2 furlongs
1:04.04
$200,000
II
[ 12]
2017
Bucchero
5
Fernando De La Cruz
Tim Glyshaw
Ironhorse Racing Stable
5+ 1 ⁄2 furlongs
1:03.06
$200,000
II
[ 13]
2016
Mongolian Saturday
6
Carlos Montalvo
Enebish Ganbat
Mongolian Saturday
5+ 1 ⁄2 furlongs
1:03:46
$150,000
III
[ 14]
2015
Amelia's Wild Ride
4
Jose Lezcano
Ramon Preciado
Silver Trail Stables
5+ 1 ⁄2 furlongs
1:02:97
$150,000
III
Off turf [ 5]
2014
No Nay Never
3
Mike E. Smith
Wesley A. Ward
Ice Wine Stables, Mrs. John Magnier , Michael B. Tabor & Derrick Smith
5+ 1 ⁄2 furlongs
1:03.59
$150,000
III
[ 15]
2013
Havelock
6
Garrett K. Gomez
Darrin Miller
Silverton Hill
5+ 1 ⁄2 furlongs
1:03.17
$150,000
III
[ 16]
2012
Bridgetown
5
Javier Castellano
Todd A. Pletcher
Melnyk Racing Stables
5+ 1 ⁄2 furlongs
1:02.55
$150,000
III
[ 17]
2011
Havelock
4
Robby Albarado
Darrin Miller
Silverton Hills
5+ 1 ⁄2 furlongs
1:01.96
$150,000
III
[ 18]
2010
Silver Timber
7
Julien R. Leparoux
Chad C. Brown
Michael Dubb & High Grade Racing Stable
5+ 1 ⁄2 furlongs
1:02.30
$100,000
III
[ 19]
2009
Silver Timber
6
Julien R. Leparoux
Chad C. Brown
Michael Dubb
5+ 1 ⁄2 furlongs
1:04.67
$125,000
III
[ 20]
2008
Chamberlain Bridge
4
Jamie Theriot
W. Bret Calhoun
Carl R. Moore Management
5+ 1 ⁄2 furlongs
1:02.39
$150,000
Listed
[ 21]
2007
Fort Prado
6
René R. Douglas
Chris M. Block
Team Block
5+ 1 ⁄2 furlongs
1:03.20
$112,600
Listed
[ 22]
2006
Sgt. Bert
5
Rafael Bejarano
Gary Montgomery
C. Gary Edelen & Fred Preuss Jr.
5+ 1 ⁄2 furlongs
1:01.67
$114,600
Listed
[ 23]
2005
Sgt. Bert
4
Rafael Bejarano
Gary Montgomery
C. Gary Edelen & Fred Preuss Jr.
5+ 1 ⁄2 furlongs
1:04.06
$112,800
Listed
[ 24]
Woodford County Stakes
2004
Battle Won
4
Rafael Bejarano
Charles Simon
Jay Manoogian
5+ 1 ⁄2 furlongs
1:02.70
$84,675
Listed
[ 25]
2003
Joe's Son Joey
5
Robby Albarado
Timothy A. Hills
Joseph R. Lunetta
5+ 1 ⁄2 furlongs
1:03.49
$84,525
Listed
[ 26]
Nureyev Stakes
2002
Manofglory
5
Jorge F. Chavez
Benjamin W. Perkins Jr.
Raymond Dweck
5+ 1 ⁄2 furlongs
1:03.99
$84,450
Listed
[ 27]
2001
Morluc
5
Robby Albarado
Randy L. Morse
Michael P. Cloonan
5+ 1 ⁄2 furlongs
1:02.22
$83,025
Listed
[ 28]
2000
Morluc
4
Shane Sellers
Randy L. Morse
Michael P. Cloonan
5+ 1 ⁄2 furlongs
1:02.20
$83,700
Listed
[ 29]
1999
Howbaddouwantit
4
Dale Beckner
Benjamin W. Perkins Jr.
Larry F. Hall
5+ 1 ⁄2 furlongs
1:02.00
$69,875
Listed
[ 30]
1998
Soldier Field
3
Rick Wilson
Linda L. Rice
David Sepler
5+ 1 ⁄2 furlongs
1:03.00
$66,250
Listed
[ 31]
1997
Sesaro
5
Shane Sellers
Charles LoPresti
Calumet Farm
5+ 1 ⁄2 furlongs
1:02.80
$69,500
Listed
[ 1]
See also
References