Study Guide: 2025 Iroquois Stakes

Sep 10, 2025 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

Comport breaking his maiden at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Media)

The 2025-26 Road to the Kentucky Derby gets underway on Saturday with the running of the $300,000 Iroquois (G3) at Churchill Downs.

The one-mile dirt race for two-year-olds has produced seven Kentucky Derby starters already this decade, including Owen Almighty and Sandman in the 2025 Run for the Roses.

Let’s take a horse-by-horse look at the 2025 Iroquois field:

Nothing Personal

Nothing Personal wins at Colonial Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 1
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Mag Racing
Breeder: Woods Edge Farm
Trainer: Greg Compton
Jockey: Jaime Rodriguez

Top Speed Rating: (86) when winning a Colonial Downs maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $42,000

Sire: Violence
Dam: Will She
Color: Chestnut

Nothing Personal impressed when debuting in a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Colonial Downs, surging from just off the pace to dominate by 8 3/4 lengths over a next-out winner. The 86 Brisnet Speed rating Nothing Personal received suggests he has the talent to vie for a top-three finish in the Iroquois.

Sometime

Sometime (Inside) and Magic Wallet (Outside) end a dead heat at Colonial Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: Calumet Farm
Breeder: Black Cloud Racing Stable
Trainer: Mark Simms Jr.
Jockey: Luan Machado

Top Speed Rating: (80) when winning a Colonial Downs maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $41,750

Sire: Take Charge Indy
Dam: Discatsonthesquare
Color: Dark bay/brown

After finishing in a dead-heat for victory in his debut on dirt at Colonial Downs, Sometime faltered when trying turf in the Jamestown S., coming home third. Returning to dirt offers potential for a rebound, but Sometime will need to improve upon his career-best 80 Brisnet Speed rating to factor against tougher foes in the Iroquois.

No More Cents

Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: Shamrock Stables
Breeder: T/C Stable
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (80) when winning the Hoover S. at Belterra Park.
Total Earnings: $55,000

Sire: Goldencents
Dam: Kajawa
Color: Gray/roan

No More Cents is already a stakes winner, having defeated fellow Ohio-bred runners in the Hoover S. at Belterra Park. But his career-best 80 Brisnet Speed rating looks light against the Iroquois field.

So Special

So Special wins at Ellis Park. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Shamrock Stables and MJM Racing
Breeder: Betz Thoroughbreds/Peter V. Lamantia
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (75) when finishing second in an Ellis Park maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $79,500

Sire: Vekoma
Dam: Remarkable Remy
Color: Gray/roan

So Special has finished second and first in his first two tries against maiden special weight competition, both on turf. Switching to dirt is a question mark, but perhaps the surface change will allow So Special to boost his Brisnet Speed rating to a higher level.

Spice Runner

Spice Runner wins at Coady Media wins at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds
Breeder: Winchell Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Jose Ortiz

Top Speed Rating: (89) when finishing second in the Ellis Park Juvenile S. at Ellis Park.
Total Earnings: $115,645

Sire: Gun Runner
Dam: Simple Surprise
Color: Bay

Spice Runner put forth a fine try in the seven-furlong Ellis Park Juvenile S. last month, dueling for the lead before weakening in the final furlong to finish second by two lengths against Iroquois rival Comport. Spice Runner will need improvement to turn the tables, but a top-three finish on Saturday is well within reach.

Shake and Rattle

Start(s): 5
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: Rocker O Ranch
Breeder: Michel Orem and J. B. Lane Orem
Trainer: Keith Desormeaux
Jockey: James Graham

Top Speed Rating: (77) when finishing fourth in the Ellis Park Juvenile S. at Ellis Park.
Total Earnings: $86,120

Sire: Rock Your World
Dam: Jane Says
Color: Bay

Shake and Rattle scored his lone victory at Churchill Downs, but a distant fourth-place finish against Comport and Spice Runner in the Ellis Park Juvenile leaves him in need of improvement to conquer the Iroquois favorites.

Comport

Start(s): 3
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Joseph W. Sutton
Breeder: Edwin Anthony
Trainer: Eddie Kenneally
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

Top Speed Rating: (92) when winning the Ellis Park Juvenile S. at Ellis Park.
Total Earnings: $235,300

Sire: Collected
Dam: Bartlett Narrows
Color: Chestnut

Comport is a heavy favorite to take the Iroquois after winning a duel with Spice Runner to claim the Ellis Park Juvenile by two lengths. The 92 Brisnet Speed rating Comport posted is the highest number in the Iroquois field, and Comport owns the second-highest number as well, having posted a 90 when second in the Bashford Manor S. at Churchill Downs.

Comport wins the Ellis Park Juvenile at @ellisparkracing! Eddie Kenneally trains the 2YO and @tyler_gaff had the mount. 🏇

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/2mTsQehLJD

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) August 10, 2025

Vost

Vost wins at Ellis Park. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 1
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: OXO Equine
Breeder: OXO Equine
Trainer: William Walden
Jockey: Florent Geroux

Top Speed Rating: (76) when winning an Ellis Park maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $58,706

Sire: Instagrand
Dam: Water White
Color: Bay

Vost overcame a slow start to rally and win his debut in a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Ellis Park. The 76 Brisnet Speed rating he posted is on the slow side, but a sharper break may allow Vost to improve, and it’s worth noting that trainer William Walden wins at a lofty 28% rate with horses tackling a route distance for the first time. There are reasons to believe Vost can factor at double-digit odds.

Nine Ball

Nine Ball wins at Ellis Park. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 1
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Bourbon Boss Farm
Breeder: Gryphon Investments
Trainer: Riley Mott
Jockey: Jaime Torres

Top Speed Rating: (77) when winning an Ellis Park maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $59,488

Sire: Code of Honor
Dam: Alydaria
Color: Chestnut

Nine Ball rallied from seventh place to win his debut in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Ellis, but much like Vost, he’ll need to improve upon his modest Brisnet Speed rating (77) to challenge against tougher competition in the Iroquois.

Maximus Prime

#5 Pinky Finger edges out #5 Maximus Prime in the Kentucky Juvenile at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 3
Wins: 0
Place: 2
Show: 0

Owner: Gary Bizzack and Tiffany Bizzack
Breeder: Brandywine Farm
Trainer: Anthony Mitchell
Jockey: Luis Saez

Top Speed Rating: (81) when finishing second in a Keeneland maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $71,543

Sire: Maximus Mischief
Dam: Sweet Alternative
Color: Bay

Maximus Prime placed second in the Kentucky Juvenile S. during the spring, but his 0-for-3 record and his recent fourth-place finish in a one-mile maiden special weight indicate he’ll need a step forward to factor in his Road to the Kentucky Derby debut.