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) 2 – WinStar Farm & China Horse Club (2017, 2025)

Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefAt Saratoga – Woody Stephens Stakes2026EnglishmanJose L. OrtizCherie DeVauxC R K Stable7 furlongs1:20.40$500,000I2025Patch AdamsLuis SaezBrad H. CoxWinStar Farm & China Horse Club7 furlongs 1:21:36$500,000I 2024Book'em Danno Irad Ortiz Jr.Derek RyanAtlantic Six Racing7 furlongs1:21.30$500,000I At Belmont Park2023Arabian LionJohn R. VelazquezBob BaffertZedan Racing Stables 7 furlongs1:21.70$400,000I 2022Jack ChristopherJosé OrtizChad C. BrownPeter M. Brant, Gerry Isbister, Jim Bakke, & Coolmore Stud7 furlongs1:21.18$392,000I 2021Drain the ClockJose OrtizSaffie Joseph JrSlam Dunk Racing, Madaket Stables, Wonder Stables & Michael Nentwig7 furlongs1:22.27$392,000 I2020No ParoleLuis SaezThomas AmossMaggi Moss & Greg Tramontin 7 furlongs1:21.41$242,500I2019Corey J. LanerieVickie L. FoleySomething Special Racing7 furlongs1:21.12$400,000I2018Still Having FunJoel RosarioTimothy L. KeefeGary Barber, Wachtel Stable and Terp Racing LLC7 furlongs1:21.45$400,000II2017American AnthemMike E. SmithBob BaffertWinStar Farm, Head of Plains Partners, China Horse Club, SF Racing7 furlongs1:22.14$500,000II2016Tom's ReadyJoel RosarioDallas StewartG M B Racing7 furlongs1:21.38$500,000II2015MarchIrad Ortiz Jr.Chad C. BrownRobert V. LaPenta7 furlongs1:21.37$490,000II2014BayernGary L. StevensBob BaffertKaleem Shah7 furlongs1:20.75$500,000II2013Forty TalesJoel RosarioTodd A. PletcherPerretti Racing Stable7 furlongs1:22.47$400,000II2012TrinnibergWillie MartinezBisnath ParbooShivananda Racing7 furlongs1:22.26$400,000II2011Justin PhillipRamon A. DominguezSteven M. AsmussenZayat Stables7 furlongs1:23.56$245,000II2010D' FunnyboneEdgar S. PradoRichard E. Dutrow Jr.Paul Pompa Jr.7 furlongs1:22.64$245,000II2009MunningsJohn R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherMichael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith7 furlongs1:20.63$250,000II2008J Be KGarrett K. GomezSteven M. AsmussenZayat Stables7 furlongs1:21.85$250,000II2007TeuflesbergRobby AlbaradoJamie SandersJeff Singer, Jamie Sanders, Donnie Kelly & Gary Logsdon 7 furlongs1:21.49$247,166 II2006SongsterEdgar S. PradoThomas AlbertraniDarley Stable7 furlongs1:21.45$250,000IIRiva Ridge Stakes2005Lost in the FogEdgar S. PradoGreg GilchristHarry J. Aleo7 furlongs1:21.54$170,000II2004Fire SlamPat DayDavid M. CarrollStan Fulton7 furlongs1:20.94$200,000II2003PosseCorey J. LanerieSteven M. AsmussenHeiligbrodt Racing Stable7 furlongs1:22.03$200,000II2002GygistarPat DayMark A. HennigEdward P. Evans7 furlongs1:22.61$190,000II2001Put It BackNoel A. WynterH. Allen JerkensHobeau Farm7 furlongs1:21.76$150,000II2000TrippiJerry D. BaileyTodd A. PletcherDogwood Stable7 furlongs1:23.68$150,000II1999Yes It's TrueJerry D. BaileyD. Wayne LukasPadua Stable7 furlongs1:22.35$150,000II1998Mike E. SmithStuart S. Janney III7 furlongs1:22.50$136,750II1997Smoke GlackenCraig PerretHenry L. CarrollWilliam B. Roberts7 furlongs1:20.98$110,100III1996Gold FeverMike E. SmithClaude R. McGaughey IIICynthia Phipps7 furlongs1:23.30$112,700III1995Western LarlaGary L. StevensD. Wayne LukasFares Farm Inc.7 furlongs1:24.24$111,600III1994You and IChris McCarronRobert J. FrankelEdmund A. Gann7 furlongs1:20.33$111,800III1993MontbrookDean GaudetIsrael Cohen7 furlongs1:23.34$123,600III1992Superstrike (GB)José A. SantosBruce L. JacksonDavid R. Kruse7 furlongs1:22.41$117,600III1991Fly So FreeJerry D. BaileyFlint S. SchulhoferThomas F. Valando7 furlongs1:23.13$123,400III1990AdjudicatingJacinto VásquezClaude R. McGaughey IIIOgden Phipps7 furlongs1:23.90$113,400III1989Is It TrueChris AntleyD. Wayne LukasEugene V. Klein7 furlongs1:22.29$117,000III1988Evening KrisLaffit Pincay Jr.Philip A. GleavesRobert E. Brennan7 furlongs1:22.80$115,000III1987Jazzing AroundJosé A. SantosD. Wayne LukasD. Wayne Lukas7 furlongs1:22.40$80,400 Listed1986OgygianWalter GuerraJan H. NerudTartan Farms7 furlongs1:23.40$81,500 1985Ziggy's BoyÁngel Cordero Jr.Walter KelleyJohn B. Singer7 furlongs1:22.20$81,600

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

References