2019 Iroquois Stakes Study Guide
Sep 12, 2019
An exciting field of 10 two-year-old prospects will vie in Saturday’s $200,000 Iroquois Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs. The Road to the Kentucky Derby points race commences the prep season leading up to the 2020 Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 2nd, with the top-four finishers earning points on a 10-4-2-1 structure.
ZYRAMID
Zyramid Career Racing Stats
3 Starts, 1 Wins, 0 Place,1 Show
Total Career Earnings: $67,000
Owner: Zayat Stables, LLC
Breeder: Nagako Fujita
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Ricardo Santana, Jr.
Sire: City Zip
Dam: Ravi’s Song
Color: Gray/Roan
Top BRIS Speed rating (84) in maiden win at Saratoga
March foal was outrun when a distant fifth in the Saratoga Special (G2) most recently when making his stakes debut. The $275,000 yearling purchase did look the part in his maiden breaker two prior, however, and the colt might move forward in his first effort going a route of ground.
LETMENO
Letmeno Career Racing Stats
2 Starts:1 Wins,1 Place, 0 Show
Total Career Earnings: $49,700
Owner: Randall Bloch and Six Column Stables, LLC
Breeder: Gainesway Thoroughbreds, Ltd.
Trainer: Ian Wilkes
Jockey: Calvin Borel
Sire: Twirling Candy
Dam: Wicked Mizz
Color: Gray/Roan
Top BRIS Speed rating (94) in Ellis Park Juvenile Stakes runner-up performance
This interesting prospect impressed when rallying from last to win on debut, and he followed that up with a clear second-place finish in the Ellis Park Juvenile Stakes. The Ian Wilkes pupil has been precocious for a conditioner not known for his prowess with juveniles. The gray will be coming with energy from off the pace beneath Calvin Borel.
SCABBARD
Scabbard Career Racing Stats
2 Starts:1 Wins,1 Place, 0 Show
Total Career Earnings: $94,848
Owner: Joseph W Sutton
Breeder: Joseph W Sutton
Trainer: Eddie Kenneally
Jockey: Corey Lanerie
Sire: More Than Ready
Dam: Cowgirl Mally
Color: Chestnut
Top BRIS Speed rating (88) in Saratoga Special (G2) second
Talented son of More Than Ready was a runaway maiden winner at Churchill Downs at first asking, and he returned to be a sharp second behind a good one in the Saratoga Special (G2). The Eddie Kenneally charge has displayed a fine turn of foot to this stage of his development, and the colt looks like a threat traveling a route of ground for the first time. Corey Lanerie retains the mount atop the April foal.
ROWDY YATES
Rowdy Yates Career Racing Stats
3 Starts: 2 Wins,1 Place, 0 Show
Total Career Earnings: $100,198
Owner: L and N Racing, LLC
Breeder: Tracy Rene Strachan
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Tyler Baze
Sire: Morning Line
Dam: Spring Station
Color: Dark Bay
Top BRIS Speed rating (97) in Ellis Park Juvenile Stakes victory
Asmussen trainee has been impressive in each of his trio of career outings to date, with his best performance coming last time out in his Ellis Park Juvenile Stakes triumph. The Oklahoma-bred speedster was a debut winner on the surface as well as finishing second in the Bashford Manor Stakes (G3) here this campaign. The colt will be formidable if he handles the distance.
AUTOMATE
Automate Career Racing Stats
3 Starts: 1 Wins, 0 Place 0 Show
Total Career Earnings: $35,500
Owner: Don’t Tell My Wife Stables, LLC et al’s
Breeder: Gary and Mary West Stables, Inc.
Trainer: Keith Desormeaux
Jockey: Florent Geroux
Sire: New Year’s Day
Dam: My Hope America
Color: Bay
Top BRIS Speed rating (80) in maiden score at Ellis Park
One of two in the field for Desormeaux, this prospect comes off a seventh-place stakes result when trying stakes foes on the green at Kentucky Downs. The Kentucky-bred is a winner going one-mile on the dirt, but he will need marked improvement to take down this fine cast.
FLUTE MAKER
Flute Maker Career Racing Stats
2 Starts: 1 Wins, 0 Place, 0 Show
Total Career Earnings: $42,490
Owner: Fern Circle Stables
Breeder: Ann Fostock
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Sire: Sky Mesa
Dam: Perfect Flute
Color: Bay
Top BRIS Speed rating (90) in maiden win at Saratoga
Prime contender was impressive when dominating foes in an off-the-turf event at Saratoga last out, drawing off to an 11-length score while being eased late. The Kentucky-bred is cut out to go long and his style hints that he will thrive at 1 1/16 miles, and beyond. Jose Ortiz coming from the Empire State to ride is a major positive.
JUGGERNAUT
Juggernaut Career Racing Stats
1 Starts:1 Wins, 0 Place, 0 Show
Total Career Earnings: $30,000
Owner: Big Chief Racing, LLC and Rocker O Ranch
Breeder: Big Chief Racing
Trainer: Keith Desormeaux
Jockey: James Graham
Sire: Goldencents
Dam: Hashtag Stormy
Color: Bay
Top BRIS Speed rating (84) in debut win at Ellis Park
This second timer led at every call in a facile sprint tally at Ellis Park on debut. The bay son of Goldencents is a wild card in the field on the major class rise combined with the stretch-out in trip, but he did put in a fine five-furlong drill on the course most recently. James Graham has the assignment once again.
DENNIS’ MOMENT
Dennis’ Moment Career Racing Stats
2 Starts:1 Wins, 0 Place, 0 Show
Total Career Earnings: $30,000
Owner: Albaugh Family Stables, LLC
Breeder: Tolo Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Dale Romans
Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Sire: Tiznow
Dam: Transplendid
Color: Bay
Top BRIS Speed rating (95) in maiden romp at Ellis Park
This top prospect clipped heels and lost his jockey at first asking on this oval, but he left no doubt as to how good he might be when thrashing maiden foes at Ellis Park by 19 widening lengths in his return. $400,000 son of Tiznow has been training in lights-out fashion with bullet moves in three straight drills locally, and the morning-line favorite is the one to beat. The budding star picks up the services of top pilot Irad Ortiz, Jr., as well.
LEBDA
Lebda Career Racing Stats
3 Starts: 2 Wins, 1 Place, 0 Show
Total Career Earnings: $64,400
Owner: Joseph E Besecker
Breeder: Calumet Farm
Trainer: Claudio Gonzalez
Jockey: Trevor McCarthy
Sire: Raison d’Etat
Dam: Lenders Way
Color: Dark Bay
Top BRIS Speed rating (93) in Delaware Park allowance victory
This sneaky contender has never run a bad one and comes off the heels of an 11-length allowance stroll at Delaware Park. The bargain $1,000 auction purchase ran subsequent Group 3 victor Maven to a half-length in his debut outing, and he could contend on Saturday if able to handle the move to two-turn racing.
JANUARY WON
January Won Career Racing Stats
1 Starts:1 Wins, 0 Place, 0 Show
Total Career Earnings: $41,250
Owner: Harold Lerner, LLC
Breeder: George Ruggiero
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Brian Hernandez, Jr.
Sire: New Year’s Day
Dam: Timezone
Color: Bay
Top BRIS Speed rating (78) in debut win at Saratoga
This Kentucky-bred colt was a debut winner at The Spa and has the look of an interesting long-term prospect in this field. The second of two from the McPeek barn in the lineup has stamina breeding on both sides of his catalog page, which makes his debut win at 5 ½ panels all the more impressive. The bay colt receives Lasix for the initial time and will break from the outside post.
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