Expert Pick of the Week: 2026 Iroquois Stakes

Sep 09, 2026 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

Salahudin wins the Ellis Park Juvenile Stakes at Ellis Park. (Photo by Coady Media/Hunter Fridley)

A cast of nine promising two-year-old horses will run one mile over the famed Churchill Downs dirt oval in Saturday’s $300,000 Iroquois (G3). The event is the first race on the 2027 Road to the Kentucky Derby series, with the top five across the wire earning qualifying points to next year’s Run for the Roses on a 10-5-3-2-1 structure.

The Bob Baffert-trained Salahudin comes in with a two-for-two lifetime mark with two strong wins at Ellis Park in advance of his first route race. By top sire Uncle Mo and purchased for $325,000 in 2025, the colt ran clear to a two-length win in his unveiling on July 17 when bet down to 1-2 odds as favorite at post time, and the youngster proved that his first showing was no fluke after securing a dominant, 4 1/2-length triumph in the Juvenile S. at the Pea Patch on Aug. 9. The dark bay juvenile thrived running seven-eighths last time, and going another furlong on Saturday will not pose an issue to the horse. Regular rider Florent Geroux will be in the silks once again.

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He Is No Lie is the quickest horse in the field and could be on the front for a long time if he clears the cast early. Trained by Doug O’Neill, the son of fine young sire Early Voting waltzed home in his debut at Santa Anita prior to finishing a brave second in the Bashford Manor S. on this oval on June 28, and he will surely rebound after failing to get involved in the Best Pal (G3) behind subsequent Grade-1 victor Hughes in his latest venture. The $150,000 purchase will be sent from the start with Joel Rosario picking up the mount.

Caribbean Life was a convincing winner on debut at Ellis Park on Aug. 8 and appears to have a high ceiling for conditioner William Walden. The bay son of excellent young sire Life is Good was fast early and late in his first appearance at seven furlongs and gives the impression of a two-year-old that will improve as the distances increase. Flavien Prat will be in the silks.

Expert Pick

An exacta with #7 Salahudin on top of #1 Caribbean Life and #8 He Is No Lie in the 2026 Iroquois Stakes is the Best Bet of the Week.