Variety is the spice of life and also the makeup of the field set for the $400,000 Woodford Stakes (G2T) Oct. 4 at Keeneland.
The 5 1/2-furlong turf dash has everything from Governor Sam, a 3-year-old seemingly on his way up, to a pair of 9-year-olds—multiple British group 1 winner Khaadem and the 2024 Woodford runner-up, Charcoal.
There's loads of speed in the nine-horse field and a few looking to benefit from a too-hot early pace. Five made their last start at Kentucky Downs, while the others were last seen at Del Mar, Ellis Park, Saratoga Race Course, and Colonial Downs.
Six of the nine have experience on the Keeneland turf, but only four have won on the surface.
Khaadem, a Dark Angel gelding trained by Charlie Hills for Mrs. Fitriani Hay, is an intriguing entry. He makes his 42nd career start and third in the United States, all in Kentucky, following a second-place finish in the 2024 Turf Sprint Stakes (G2T) at Kentucky Downs and a third in the same race this year.
He sparkled in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot, winning that 6-furlong dash in both 2023 and 2024. Those races excepted, though, his form during the past two seasons has dropped from levels that saw him compete on terms with some of the best. Hills says the old guy is quirky and unpredictable.
"He's a wonderful horse, but you just wouldn't know what you are going to get," Hills told Racing Post after the Queen Elizabeth II defense. "He's got a huge amount of ability, but he's so different one day to the next. One day he'll pick up the bridle and you think he's Nijinsky, the next you think he's a plater."
Charcoal has even more mileage on his odometer. The English Channel gelding, trained by Tracey Wisner for owner Ron Dowdy, eyes his 48th start and fourth in the Woodford. He finished seventh in 2021 and sixth in 2022, missed 2023, and reported second last year behind Our Shot. Charcoal also is a repeater in the Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint, finishing fifth in both 2022 and 2024 and 11th, beaten 10 lengths, in his last start.
Also exiting this year's Turf Sprint is Arrest Me Red, who finished fourth, just a nose behind Khaadem. Another veteran at age 7, the Pioneerof the Nile gelding is trained by Wesley Ward, the last trainer to win the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) with a same-season Woodford winner—Golden Pal in 2021.
Leading the youth brigade are World Record, Governor Sam, and Doncho.
World Record would be making his first turf start after taking second in the Aristides Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs and third in the Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) at Del Mar in May and June. However, trainer Rodolphe Brisset has cross-entered the 4-year-old Gun Runner colt in the Phoenix Stakes (G2) a day earlier on the Keeneland dirt.
Governor Sam, a 3-year-old Improbable colt, finished third in the 2024 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T) after winning the Indian Summer Stakes at Keeneland. He was last seen finishing third in the Franklin-Simpson Stakes (G1) at Kentucky Downs for trainer George Weaver.
Doncho, a 4-year-old Mo Town gelding, has been effective on both turf and dirt for trainer Michelle Lovell. Winner of five of his nine starts, the speedy sort won the Da Hoss Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs on the Colonial Downs turf in his last outing. He's finished off the board in his two previous starts at Keeneland, fourth in the 2024 Lafayette Stakes at 7 furlongs on the dirt and ninth in an allowance on the turf April 18.
Keeneland, Saturday, October 4, 2025, Race 6Entries: Woodford S. Presented by FanDuel (G2T)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Arrest Me Red (KY) Luan Machado 121 Wesley A. Ward 9/2 2 2World Record (KY) Cristian A. Torres 121 Rodolphe Brisset 7/2 3 3Joe Shiesty (KY) Tyler Gaffalione 121 Eric N. Foster 8/1 4 4Outlaw Kid (ON) Flavien Prat 121 George Weaver 10/1 5 5Doncho (KY) Jose L. Ortiz 121 Michelle Lovell 3/1 6 6Charcoal (KY) Joseph D. Ramos 121 Tracey J. Wisner 30/1 7 7Governor Sam (KY) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 120 George Weaver 6/1 8 8Khaadem (IRE) Lanfranco Dettori 121 Charlie Hills 4/1 9 9Script (KY) John R. Velazquez 121 George R. Arnold II 20/1
