# Woodford Stakes

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.
The event was named in honor of the Champion sire, Nureyev.
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.
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.
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. 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

* 5+1⁄2 furlongs: 1:01.39 – Golden Pal (2022)
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
* 3 – Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor (2014, 2021, 2022)
Most wins by a jockey
* 3 – Rafael Bejarano (2004, 2005, 2006)
Most wins by a trainer
* 3 – Wesley A. Ward (2014, 2021, 2022)

## 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 | |
| 2023 | Arzak | 5 | Joel Rosario | Michael Trombetta | Sonata Stable | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:01.65 | $337,875 | II | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 2019 | Stubbins | 3 | Joel Rosario | Doug F. O'Neill | McShane Racing | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:01.44 | $200,000 | II | |
| 2018 | Bucchero | 6 | Fernando De La Cruz | Tim Glyshaw | Ironhorse Racing Stable | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:04.04 | $200,000 | II | |
| 2017 | Bucchero | 5 | Fernando De La Cruz | Tim Glyshaw | Ironhorse Racing Stable | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:03.06 | $200,000 | II | |
| 2016 | Mongolian Saturday | 6 | Carlos Montalvo | Enebish Ganbat | Mongolian Saturday | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:03:46 | $150,000 | III | |
| 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 |
| 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 | |
| 2013 | Havelock | 6 | Garrett K. Gomez | Darrin Miller | Silverton Hill | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:03.17 | $150,000 | III | |
| 2012 | Bridgetown | 5 | Javier Castellano | Todd A. Pletcher | Melnyk Racing Stables | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:02.55 | $150,000 | III | |
| 2011 | Havelock | 4 | Robby Albarado | Darrin Miller | Silverton Hills | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:01.96 | $150,000 | III | |
| 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 | |
| 2009 | Silver Timber | 6 | Julien R. Leparoux | Chad C. Brown | Michael Dubb | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:04.67 | $125,000 | III | |
| 2008 | Chamberlain Bridge | 4 | Jamie Theriot | W. Bret Calhoun | Carl R. Moore Management | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:02.39 | $150,000 | Listed | |
| 2007 | Fort Prado | 6 | René R. Douglas | Chris M. Block | Team Block | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:03.20 | $112,600 | Listed | |
| 2006 | Sgt. Bert | 5 | Rafael Bejarano | Gary Montgomery | C. Gary Edelen & Fred Preuss Jr. | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:01.67 | $114,600 | Listed | |
| 2005 | Sgt. Bert | 4 | Rafael Bejarano | Gary Montgomery | C. Gary Edelen & Fred Preuss Jr. | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:04.06 | $112,800 | Listed | |
| Woodford County Stakes |||||||||||
| 2004 | Battle Won | 4 | Rafael Bejarano | Charles Simon | Jay Manoogian | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:02.70 | $84,675 | Listed | |
| 2003 | Joe's Son Joey | 5 | Robby Albarado | Timothy A. Hills | Joseph R. Lunetta | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:03.49 | $84,525 | Listed | |
| Nureyev Stakes |||||||||||
| 2002 | Manofglory | 5 | Jorge F. Chavez | Benjamin W. Perkins Jr. | Raymond Dweck | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:03.99 | $84,450 | Listed | |
| 2001 | Morluc | 5 | Robby Albarado | Randy L. Morse | Michael P. Cloonan | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:02.22 | $83,025 | Listed | |
| 2000 | Morluc | 4 | Shane Sellers | Randy L. Morse | Michael P. Cloonan | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:02.20 | $83,700 | Listed | |
| 1999 | Howbaddouwantit | 4 | Dale Beckner | Benjamin W. Perkins Jr. | Larry F. Hall | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:02.00 | $69,875 | Listed | |
| 1998 | Soldier Field | 3 | Rick Wilson | Linda L. Rice | David Sepler | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:03.00 | $66,250 | Listed | |
| 1997 | Sesaro | 5 | Shane Sellers | Charles LoPresti | Calumet Farm | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:02.80 | $69,500 | Listed | |
Legend:
 Turf  Dirt