Spice Runner turned the tables on Comport, tallies 10 points on ‘Road to Derby” with Iroquois win; Taken by the Wind captures Pocahontas for Bradshaw

Sep 13, 2025 Churchill Downs Communications

Spice Runner (outside) wins the Iroquois (G3) at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025) – Winchell Thoroughbreds’ homebred Spice Runner is the early points leader on the 2026 “Road to the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve” after the Gun Runner colt narrowly won Saturday’s 44th running of the $299,400 Iroquois (G3) for two-year-olds at Churchill Downs in thrilling fashion by running down 6-5 favorite Comport in the final jump. Vost was another five lengths back in third, Nothing Personal was fourth and Maximus Prime finished fifth.

Sent to post as the 5-1 third betting choice, Spice Runner ran one mile over a fast track in 1:36.59 under jockey Jose Ortiz for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, who won the race for a record-equaling fourth time. Earlier, Asmussen captured the Iroquois with Thiskyhasnolimit (2009), Astrology (2010) and Lucky Player (2014).

Spice Runner banked the $177,525 first prize and 10 points on the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” point system that will determine the field for next year’s 152nd Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) on May 2, 2026 at Churchill Downs. The Iroquois was the first in a series of 36 select races on the “Road to the Kentucky Derby,” and the top five finishing positions earned points on a sliding scale of 10-5-3-2-1, respectively.

Breaking from post position No. 5 in field of 10 2-year-olds, Spice Runner changed tactics and relaxed just behind the pacesetters. Longshot No More Cents and Comport, who entered the race unbeaten including a two-length win over Spice Runner in the $200,000 Ellis Park Juvenile on Aug. 10, battled for the early lead through swift fractions of :22.69 and :46.06.

Spice Runner, unlike his last start where he battled for the early lead, tracked in fifth down backstretch but began to improve position when Comport took command midway around the turn. After six furlongs in 1:10.83, Comport opened up to a two-length advantage at the top of the stretch, but Spice Runner, outfitted in blinkers, was hitting his best stride despite wandering inward in mid-stretch. Comport had the lead nearly every step of the way but was passed on the outside by Spice Runner just before the finish to win by a narrow head.

“Last time I rode him we were a little too close to the pace,” Ortiz said. “Steve told me today to stay off the pace and let him relax. He really dug in late to get the job done. He was a little green late and switched to his left lead but he was still coming. I think we still haven’t reached the top with him. He can still improve mentally but he’s on the right track. I’m really excited for him.”

Spice Runner paid $12.38, $5.42 and $4.16. Comport, under Tyler Gaffalione, returned $2.80 and $2.42. Vost, with Florent Geroux up at odds of 5-1, paid $4.

Nothing Personal and Maximus Prime were fourth and fifth, respectively, and were followed by Shake and Rattle, Nine Ball, So Special, Sometime and No More Cents.

Spice Runner, a Kentucky-bred full-brother to Grade I winner Gunite who finished second in the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), improved his record to 4-2-1-0. His career earnings now total $293,170.

The bay colt was bred by Ron Winchell and is out of the Cowboy Cal mare Simple Surprise.

“He’s definitely got room to grow,” Asmussen said. “The tactics he set today was a good improvement. He traveled very nicely. We might have a little mental issue because I think there’s more there. He has to be ridden hard to get there. It didn’t look like he was going to go by at first then got a little more focused. It definitely appears the talent is there.”

The next races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby come Saturday, Oct. 4 with the $650,000 Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland; $500,000 Champagne (G1) at Aqueduct; and $300,000 American Pharoah (G1) at Santa Anita.

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Taken by the Wind, co-owned by four-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback and NFL Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw, scored a touchdown Saturday at Churchill Downs with a runaway 5 1/4-length win over Miss Complicated in the 57th running of the $251,250 Pocahontas (G3) for two-year-old fillies.

Purchased for only $20,000 at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale, Taken by the Wind ran one mile in 1:36.50 for jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., trainer Kenny McPeek and owners Magdalena Racing (Sherri McPeek et al), Bradshaw and Graham Leveston.

A Florida-bred daughter of Rock Your World out of the First Samurai mare Up for Grabs, Taken by the Wind banked $136,710 for the win and is the early points-leader on the “Road to the Kentucky Oaks” after collecting 10 points. The Pocahontas was the first of 33 qualifying races to the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) to be run next May, and points were awarded to the top five finishers on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale.

Breaking from post No. 3 in the field of seven two-year-old fillies, Taken by the Wind relaxed along the inside in fourth as Embrace the Moment led the field through early fractions of :22.75 and :45.57 with Our Two Girls in second and Dazzling Dame in third. As Embrace the Moment began to tire around the turn, Taken by the Wind tipped out and found room between Our Two Girls and Dazzling Dame to assume command with three-sixteenths of a mile to run. She kicked clear of the field approaching the final furlong.

“She broke well,” Ortiz said. “I just let the speed go after that. I tried to let her settle on the rail like she did in her last start. Turning for home, there was an opening and she went through there and opened up. She ran like an older filly today. She’s very exciting.”

In her previous start on Aug. 21 at Saratoga, Taken by the Wind won her debut by three lengths in an off-the-turf maiden special weight over seven furlongs.

“She’s only been here a few days,” McPeek’s local assistant Greg Geier said. “Kenny said she was training well and she backed it up today.”

For McPeek, who attended the Keeneland September Yearling Sale on Saturday, it was his record-extending fifth Pocahontas victory. Previously, he won with Dothraki Queen (2015), Daddys Lil Darling (2016), Fun and Feisty (2022) and VV’s Dream (2023).

Taken by the Wind (2-2-0-0—$180,710) paid $14.10, $5.18 and $3.82 as the 6-1 fourth betting choice. Miss Complicated, who rallied into second under Julien Leparoux after being squeezed at the start as the 9-5 favorite, returned $3.78 and $2.72. Joke Maker, with Luan Machado aboard, was another 2 ½ lengths back in third and paid $3.62 to show at odds of 12-1.

Dazzling Dame, Our Two Girls, Embrace the Moment and Starlit Sky completed the order of finish.

Taken by the Wind was bred by Courtney L. Meagher.