# Woody Stephens Stakes

The Woody Stephens Stakes is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds run over a distance of seven furlongs on dirt held annually in early June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York.

## History

Inaugurated in 1985 as the Riva Ridge Stakes, it was named in honor of the Hall of Fame inductee and Kentucky Derby winner, Riva Ridge. In 2006, it was renamed in memory of Hall of Fame trainer Woody Stephens, who won eight U.S. Triple Crown races including a record five consecutive editions of the Belmont Stakes.
The event was classified as a Grade III in 1988, upgraded to a Grade II event in 1998, and in 2019 it was upgraded to Grade I.
The race is part of the undercard for the Belmont Stakes and often includes horses that are cutting back in distance after attempting to qualify on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
The event has been won by champions including Lost in the Fog in 2005 who that year was the American Champion Sprint Horse, and the 1990 Champion 2YO Fly So Free. Also the 2014 winner Bayern would later that year win the Breeders' Cup Classic.
In 2024 the event was moved to Saratoga Racetrack due to infield tunnel and redevelopment work at Belmont Park.

## Records

Speed record:
* 1:20.33 – You And I (1994)
Margins:
* 10 lengths – Jack Christopher (2022)
Most wins by a jockey:
* 3 – Jerry Bailey (1991, 1999, 2000)
* 3 – Mike E. Smith (1996, 1998, 2017)
* 3 – Edgar Prado (2005, 2006, 2010)
* 3 – Joel Rosario (2013, 2016, 2018)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 4 – D. Wayne Lukas (1987, 1989, 1995, 1999)
Most wins by an owner:
* 2 – Zayat Stables (2008, 2011)

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade |
| At Saratoga – Woody Stephens Stakes ||||||||||
| 2024 | Book'em Danno | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Derek Ryan | Atlantic Six Racing | 7 furlongs | 1:21.30 | $500,000 | I |
| At Belmont Park ||||||||||
| 2023 | Arabian Lion | John R. Velazquez | Bob Baffert | Zedan Racing Stables | 7 furlongs | 1:21.70 | $400,000 | I |
| 2022 | Jack Christopher | José Ortiz | Chad C. Brown | Peter M. Brant, Gerry Isbister, Jim Bakke, & Coolmore Stud | 7 furlongs | 1:21.18 | $392,000 | I |
| 2021 | Drain the Clock | Jose Ortiz | Saffie Joseph Jr | Slam Dunk Racing, Madaket Stables, Wonder Stables & Michael Nentwig | 7 furlongs | 1:22.27 | $392,000 | I |
| 2020 | No Parole | Luis Saez | Thomas Amoss | Maggi Moss & Greg Tramontin | 7 furlongs | 1:21.41 | $242,500 | I |
| 2019 | Hog Creek Hustle | Corey J. Lanerie | Vickie L. Foley | Something Special Racing | 7 furlongs | 1:21.12 | $400,000 | I |
| 2018 | Still Having Fun | Joel Rosario | Timothy L. Keefe | Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable and Terp Racing LLC | 7 furlongs | 1:21.45 | $400,000 | II |
| 2017 | American Anthem | Mike E. Smith | Bob Baffert | WinStar Farm, Head of Plains Partners, China Horse Club, SF Racing | 7 furlongs | 1:22.14 | $500,000 | II |
| 2016 | Tom's Ready | Joel Rosario | Dallas Stewart | G M B Racing | 7 furlongs | 1:21.38 | $500,000 | II |
| 2015 | March | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Chad C. Brown | Robert V. LaPenta | 7 furlongs | 1:21.37 | $490,000 | II |
| 2014 | Bayern | Gary L. Stevens | Bob Baffert | Kaleem Shah | 7 furlongs | 1:20.75 | $500,000 | II |
| 2013 | Forty Tales | Joel Rosario | Todd A. Pletcher | Perretti Racing Stable | 7 furlongs | 1:22.47 | $400,000 | II |
| 2012 | Trinniberg | Willie Martinez | Bisnath Parboo | Shivananda Racing | 7 furlongs | 1:22.26 | $400,000 | II |
| 2011 | Justin Phillip | Ramon A. Dominguez | Steven M. Asmussen | Zayat Stables | 7 furlongs | 1:23.56 | $245,000 | II |
| 2010 | D' Funnybone | Edgar S. Prado | Richard E. Dutrow Jr. | Paul Pompa Jr. | 7 furlongs | 1:22.64 | $245,000 | II |
| 2009 | Munnings | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith | 7 furlongs | 1:20.63 | $250,000 | II |
| 2008 | J Be K | Garrett K. Gomez | Steven M. Asmussen | Zayat Stables | 7 furlongs | 1:21.85 | $250,000 | II |
| 2007 | Teuflesberg | Robby Albarado | Jamie Sanders | Jeff Singer, Jamie Sanders, Donnie Kelly & Gary Logsdon | 7 furlongs | 1:21.49 | $247,166 | II |
| 2006 | Songster | Edgar S. Prado | Thomas Albertrani | Darley Stable | 7 furlongs | 1:21.45 | $250,000 | II |
| Riva Ridge Stakes ||||||||||
| 2005 | Lost in the Fog | Edgar S. Prado | Greg Gilchrist | Harry J. Aleo | 7 furlongs | 1:21.54 | $170,000 | II |
| 2004 | Fire Slam | Pat Day | David M. Carroll | Stan Fulton | 7 furlongs | 1:20.94 | $200,000 | II |
| 2003 | Posse | Corey J. Lanerie | Steven M. Asmussen | Heiligbrodt Racing Stable | 7 furlongs | 1:22.03 | $200,000 | II |
| 2002 | Gygistar | Pat Day | Mark A. Hennig | Edward P. Evans | 7 furlongs | 1:22.61 | $190,000 | II |
| 2001 | Put It Back | Noel A. Wynter | H. Allen Jerkens | Hobeau Farm | 7 furlongs | 1:21.76 | $150,000 | II |
| 2000 | Trippi | Jerry D. Bailey | Todd A. Pletcher | Dogwood Stable | 7 furlongs | 1:23.68 | $150,000 | II |
| 1999 | Yes It's True | Jerry D. Bailey | D. Wayne Lukas | Padua Stable | 7 furlongs | 1:22.35 | $150,000 | II |
| 1998 | Coronado's Quest | Mike E. Smith | Claude R. McGaughey III | Stuart S. Janney III | 7 furlongs | 1:22.50 | $136,750 | II |
| 1997 | Smoke Glacken | Craig Perret | Henry L. Carroll | William B. Roberts | 7 furlongs | 1:20.98 | $110,100 | III |
| 1996 | Gold Fever | Mike E. Smith | Claude R. McGaughey III | Cynthia Phipps | 7 furlongs | 1:23.30 | $112,700 | III |
| 1995 | Western Larla | Gary L. Stevens | D. Wayne Lukas | Fares Farm Inc. | 7 furlongs | 1:24.24 | $111,600 | III |
| 1994 | You and I | Chris McCarron | Robert J. Frankel | Edmund A. Gann | 7 furlongs | 1:20.33 | $111,800 | III |
| 1993 | Montbrook | Clarence Joseph Ladner III | Dean Gaudet | Israel Cohen | 7 furlongs | 1:23.34 | $123,600 | III |
| 1992 | Superstrike (GB) | José A. Santos | Bruce L. Jackson | David R. Kruse | 7 furlongs | 1:22.41 | $117,600 | III |
| 1991 | Fly So Free | Jerry D. Bailey | Flint S. Schulhofer | Thomas F. Valando | 7 furlongs | 1:23.13 | $123,400 | III |
| 1990 | Adjudicating | Jacinto Vásquez | Claude R. McGaughey III | Ogden Phipps | 7 furlongs | 1:23.90 | $113,400 | III |
| 1989 | Is It True | Chris Antley | D. Wayne Lukas | Eugene V. Klein | 7 furlongs | 1:22.29 | $117,000 | III |
| 1988 | Evening Kris | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Philip A. Gleaves | Robert E. Brennan | 7 furlongs | 1:22.80 | $115,000 | III |
| 1987 | Jazzing Around | José A. Santos | D. Wayne Lukas | D. Wayne Lukas | 7 furlongs | 1:22.40 | $80,400 | Listed |
| 1986 | Ogygian | Walter Guerra | Jan H. Nerud | Tartan Farms | 7 furlongs | 1:23.40 | $81,500 | |
| 1985 | Ziggy's Boy | Ángel Cordero Jr. | Walter Kelley | John B. Singer | 7 furlongs | 1:22.20 | $81,600 | |