The Woodford Stakes is a Grade II American thoroughbred horse race for horses age three and older over a distance of 5+12 furlongs on the turf held annually in early October at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky during the fall meeting.

Woodford Stakes
Grade II race
LocationKeeneland Race Course
Lexington, Kentucky, United States
Inaugurated1997
Race typeThoroughbredFlat racing
SponsorFanDuel (2022)
WebsiteKeeneland
Race information
Distance5+12 furlongs
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationThree-years-old and older
WeightBase weights with allowances:
4-year-olds and up: 124 lbs.
3-year-olds: 122 lbs.
PurseUS$350,000 (2022)

History

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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 34 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+12 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

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Speed record

Margins

  • 2+12 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

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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+12 furlongs 1:02.36 $320,463 II [6]
2023 Arzak 5 Joel Rosario Michael Trombetta Sonata Stable 5+12 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+12 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+12 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+12 furlongs 1:01.59 $150,000 II [10]
2019 Stubbins 3 Joel Rosario Doug F. O'Neill McShane Racing 5+12 furlongs 1:01.44 $200,000 II [11]
2018 Bucchero 6 Fernando De La Cruz Tim Glyshaw Ironhorse Racing Stable 5+12 furlongs 1:04.04 $200,000 II [12]
2017 Bucchero 5 Fernando De La Cruz Tim Glyshaw Ironhorse Racing Stable 5+12 furlongs 1:03.06 $200,000 II [13]
2016 Mongolian Saturday 6 Carlos Montalvo Enebish Ganbat Mongolian Saturday 5+12 furlongs 1:03:46 $150,000 III [14]
2015 Amelia's Wild Ride 4 Jose Lezcano Ramon Preciado Silver Trail Stables 5+12 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+12 furlongs 1:03.59 $150,000 III [15]
2013 Havelock 6 Garrett K. Gomez Darrin Miller Silverton Hill 5+12 furlongs 1:03.17 $150,000 III [16]
2012 Bridgetown 5 Javier Castellano Todd A. Pletcher Melnyk Racing Stables 5+12 furlongs 1:02.55 $150,000 III [17]
2011 Havelock 4 Robby Albarado Darrin Miller Silverton Hills 5+12 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+12 furlongs 1:02.30 $100,000 III [19]
2009 Silver Timber 6 Julien R. Leparoux Chad C. Brown Michael Dubb 5+12 furlongs 1:04.67 $125,000 III [20]
2008 Chamberlain Bridge 4 Jamie Theriot W. Bret Calhoun Carl R. Moore Management 5+12 furlongs 1:02.39 $150,000 Listed [21]
2007 Fort Prado 6 René R. Douglas Chris M. Block Team Block 5+12 furlongs 1:03.20 $112,600 Listed [22]
2006 Sgt. Bert 5 Rafael Bejarano Gary Montgomery C. Gary Edelen & Fred Preuss Jr. 5+12 furlongs 1:01.67 $114,600 Listed [23]
2005 Sgt. Bert 4 Rafael Bejarano Gary Montgomery C. Gary Edelen & Fred Preuss Jr. 5+12 furlongs 1:04.06 $112,800 Listed [24]
Woodford County Stakes
2004 Battle Won 4 Rafael Bejarano Charles Simon Jay Manoogian 5+12 furlongs 1:02.70 $84,675 Listed [25]
2003 Joe's Son Joey 5 Robby Albarado Timothy A. Hills Joseph R. Lunetta 5+12 furlongs 1:03.49 $84,525 Listed [26]
Nureyev Stakes
2002 Manofglory 5 Jorge F. Chavez Benjamin W. Perkins Jr. Raymond Dweck 5+12 furlongs 1:03.99 $84,450 Listed [27]
2001 Morluc 5 Robby Albarado Randy L. Morse Michael P. Cloonan 5+12 furlongs 1:02.22 $83,025 Listed [28]
2000 Morluc 4 Shane Sellers Randy L. Morse Michael P. Cloonan 5+12 furlongs 1:02.20 $83,700 Listed [29]
1999 Howbaddouwantit 4 Dale Beckner Benjamin W. Perkins Jr. Larry F. Hall 5+12 furlongs 1:02.00 $69,875 Listed [30]
1998 Soldier Field 3 Rick Wilson Linda L. Rice David Sepler 5+12 furlongs 1:03.00 $66,250 Listed [31]
1997 Sesaro 5 Shane Sellers Charles LoPresti Calumet Farm 5+12 furlongs 1:02.80 $69,500 Listed [1]

Legend:
  Turf   Dirt

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "1997 Nureyev Stakes Listed – (race 7)". Equibase. 11 October 1997. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  2. ^ "NUREYEV (USA) b. H, 1977 – 3 Starts, 2 Wins, 0 Places, 0 Shows Career Earnings: $42,522". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  3. ^ "Woodford S. Presented by Keeneland Select (Gr. 2)". Equibase. 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  4. ^ "WOODFORD STAKES – MULTIPLE TRACKS". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  5. ^ a b "2015 Woodford S. Presented by Keeneland Select Grade 3 – (race 5)". Equibase. 3 October 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  6. ^ "2023 Woodford S. Presented by FanDuel Grade 2 – (race 6)". Equibase. 5 October 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  7. ^ "2023 Woodford S. Presented by FanDuel Grade 2 – (race 6)". Equibase. 7 October 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  8. ^ "2022 Woodford S. Presented by FanDuel Grade 2 – (race 6)". Equibase. 8 October 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  9. ^ "2021 Woodford S. Presented by Keeneland Select Grade 2 – (race 6)". Equibase. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  10. ^ "2020 Woodford S. Presented by Keeneland Select Grade 2 – (race 6)". Equibase. 3 October 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  11. ^ "2019 Woodford S. Presented by Keeneland Select Grade 2 – (race 6)". Equibase. 5 October 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  12. ^ "2018 Woodford S. Presented by Keeneland Select Grade 2 – (race 6)". Equibase. 6 October 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  13. ^ "2017 Woodford S. Presented by Keeneland Select Grade 2 – (race 5)". Equibase. 7 October 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  14. ^ "2016 Woodford S. Presented by Keeneland Select Grade 3 – (race 5)". Equibase. 8 October 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  15. ^ "2014 Woodford S. Presented by Keeneland Select Grade 3 – (race 5)". Equibase. 4 October 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  16. ^ "2013 Woodford S. Presented by Keeneland Select Grade 3 – (race 5)". Equibase. 5 October 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  17. ^ "2012 Woodford Stakes Grade 3 – (race 5)". Equibase. 6 October 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  18. ^ "2011 Woodford Stakes Grade 3 – (race 5)". Equibase. 8 October 2011. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  19. ^ "2010 Woodford Stakes Grade 3 – (race 6)". Equibase. 9 October 2010. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  20. ^ "2009 Woodford Stakes Grade 3 – (race 5)". Equibase. 10 October 2009. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  21. ^ "2008 Woodford Stakes Listed – (race 6)". Equibase. 4 October 2008. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  22. ^ "2007 Woodford Stakes Listed – (race 8)". Equibase. 18 October 2007. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  23. ^ "2006 Woodford Stakes Listed – (race 6)". Equibase. 8 October 2006. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  24. ^ "2005 Woodford Stakes Listed – (race 4)". Equibase. 9 October 2005. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  25. ^ "2004 Woodford County Stakes Listed – (race 9)". Equibase. 22 October 2004. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  26. ^ "2003 Woodford County Stakes Listed – (race 9)". Equibase. 17 October 2003. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  27. ^ "2002 Nureyev Stakes Listed – (race 4)". Equibase. 4 October 2002. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  28. ^ "2001 Nureyev Stakes Listed – (race 4)". Equibase. 5 October 2001. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  29. ^ "2000 Nureyev Stakes Listed – (race 7)". Equibase. 15 October 2000. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  30. ^ "1999 Nureyev Stakes Listed – (race 4)". Equibase. 17 October 1999. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  31. ^ "1998 Nureyev Stakes Listed – (race 4)". Equibase. 11 October 1998. Retrieved 21 August 2020.