Las Vegas, NV - The 27th running of the Grade 2 Woody Stephens Stakes goes this Saturday, June 9th from Belmont Park in New York. Three year olds will try to put on a show ahead of the much anticipated Belmont Stakes as they go seven furlongs on Belmont's dirt track with $400,000 up for grabs.

A strong field of 10 has been assembled for the Woody Stephens. It is race 9 on Belmont Park's Saturday card with a post time of 4:43 PM. Here is a glimpse into the past performances of the 10 entries ahead of this $400,000 race.

2012 Woody Stephens Stakes Race Favorites

Trinniberg - finished a brutal 17th last time out in the Kentucky Derby to follow up a pair of wins in 2012 - the Grade 3 Bay Shore and the Grade 3 Swale Stakes. Trinniberg is back at familiar distances and ready to avenge a loss to Currency Swap in last year's Hopeful Stakes.

Currency Swap - Won the You and I Stakes last time out on this track on May 12th and before that was a distant 11th in the Grade 2 Illinois Derby. Before that was a second in an Allowance race behind Gemologist at Gulfstream March 16th and a win - the Grade 1 Three Chimneys Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga in September ahead of Trinniberg.

Woody Stephens Stakes 2012 | Remaining Field Entries

Il Villano - has seven career starts with four wins, two seconds and a third place finish. Last time out was an impressive 4 ¾ length win in the Chick Lang Stakes at Pimlico to follow a second in the Grade 2 Hutchison and a third in the Count Fleet this year. Il Villano is no slouch and could be a sneaky pick in the Woody Stephens.

Hierro - has two wins in six career start with both wins coming at Churchill Downs. An impressive win last time out in the Grade 3 Cliff's edge Derby Trial Stakes followed a couple of unflattering results - a fourth in an Allowance Optional Claiming and a fifth in the Grade 3 Sham on January 7th. A win last time out has Hierro on the radar.

Isn't He Clever - started his 2012 campaign with a decent fourth in the Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis Stakes and then went on to win the Borderland Derby. In March Isn't He Clever continued to look fine with a second in the Grade 3 Sunland Derby but he struggled in his last race - an eighth place finish in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby. This is a tough horse to figure out!

Woody Stephens Stakes betting at Belmont Park with OffTrackBetting.com

Hardened Wildcat - Chad Brown trained Hardened Wildcat had a string of three wins end with a second in the Grade 3 Bay Shore Stakes at Aqueduct on April 7th. Last time out was a third in the You and I Stakes on this track on May 12th.

Brian - finished second ahead of Hardened Wildcat last time out in the You and I Stakes to follow up two straight wins in Claiming races. In five career starts Brian has two wins, one second and two third place finishes.

Bourbon Courage - after two wins to start his career, Bourbon Courage finished a respectable fourth in his third start in the Grade 3 Derby Trial Stakes. Lightly raced, Bourbon Courage is a mystery ahead of the Woody Stephens.

Power World - has six career starts - four of them of the graded stakes variety. In graded stakes action Power World had a second in the Grade 3 Bashford at Churchill Downs, a second in the Grade 2 Sanford followed by a fifth in the Grade 1 Hopeful and a seventh in the Grade 1 Champagne to close out 2011. In 2012 Power World has one start - an Allowance score on this track on May 6th.

Laurie's Rocket - has never placed in a graded stakes race but has won some minor stakes in his 11 race career. In his last two starts Laurie's Rocket has a win in the Bachelor Stakes and a second last time out in the Chick Land Stakes.

---

2012 Woody Stephens Stakes Entries & Odds

Race 9 on Belmont Park's Saturday card with a Post Time of 4:43 PM.