Previewing the Contenders for the Grade 1 Woody Stephens Stakes

As Belmont Stakes Day approaches, excitement builds for one of New York's premier racing events. With seven graded stakes races on the card, the Grade 1 Woody Stephens Stakes is set to showcase nine talented three-year-olds vying for a share of the $500,000 purse.

Named after the legendary trainer Woody Stephens, who is celebrated for his remarkable success at the Belmont Stakes, this year’s race will take place on June 6, with a post time scheduled for 4:52 PM Eastern. Each contender brings unique strengths and speed to the seven-furlong sprint.

Among the entrants, Gilded Bandit, trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Junior Alvarado, enters as an 8-1 morning line favorite. With two wins in three starts, he aims to make a mark in his stakes debut.

Obliteration, also at 8-1, is trained by Steve Asmussen and will be piloted by John Velazquez. This experienced runner has four wins from nine starts and last triumphed in the Chick Lang Stakes.

At 10-1, Six Speed is another Asmussen trainee, with Irad Ortiz Jr. in the saddle. Despite setting a fast pace in the Kentucky Derby, he finished thirteenth, and may struggle to maintain his speed against this competitive field.

Solitude Dude, a formidable contender at 6-1, boasts four wins in five starts. Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. and ridden by Flavien Prat, he has shown an ability to dominate from the start, but his adaptability will be tested if he doesn’t secure the early lead.

Bob Baffert's Crude Velocity stands out as the 9-5 favorite. Undefeated in three starts, he last won the Pat Day Mile impressively. His stalking style gives him a competitive edge in this race.

With two wins in three starts, Englishman is a strong contender at 3-1, despite a recent setback in the Pat Day Mile where he set a fast early pace. Civil Liberty, at 10-1, has shown consistent performance with a recent win at Keeneland, while Taj Mahal, the long shot at 15-1, aims to influence the race's early tempo after a challenging run in the Preakness.

The Woody Stephens Stakes promises to be an exciting showcase of speed and strategy as these nine runners compete for glory on one of the biggest days in New York racing.