Iroquois Stakes

Churchill Downs • Louisville, KY, USA 10-5-3-2-1
September 16, 2023

Iroquois Stakes Race History

The Road to the Kentucky Derby begins and ends at Churchill Downs. A journey that concludes with fanfare on the first Saturday quietly begins with the 1 1⁄16-mile Iroquois Stakes (G3) the previous September.

Named in honor of the great racehorse Iroquois, the first America-bred winner of England’s historic Epsom Derby, the Iroquois Stakes was inaugurated in 1982. Held for many years in late October or early November, the race frequently fell on the same weekend as the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, limiting participation from the best two-year-old Thoroughbreds in North America.

Instead of attracting Breeders’ Cup contenders, the Iroquois was often won by late-maturing colts such as Harlan’s Holiday (2001) and The Cliff’s Edge (2003), future Grade 1 winners and Kentucky Derby starters who did their best running at age three or four.

In 2013, Churchill Downs shifted the Iroquois Stakes to mid-September and lengthened the race from one mile to 1 1⁄16 miles, allowing promising youngsters aiming for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) to use the Iroquois as a prep race. This connection was formalized with the addition of the Iroquois Stakes to the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, guaranteeing the Iroquois winner a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

At the same time, the Iroquois was established as the kickoff leg on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, offering 17 Derby qualification points to the top four finishers on a 10-5-3-2-1 basis.

With a Breeders’ Cup berth and Kentucky Derby qualification points sweetening the pot, the quality of the Iroquois Stakes has steadily risen. Since 2013, the race has consistently produced Kentucky Derby starters. Among the most notable has been Lookin At Lee, who parlayed a runner-up effort in the 2016 Iroquois into an identical finish in the 2017 Kentucky Derby.

The Iroquois has been a regular target for promising colts conditioned by Dale Romans, trainer of Kentucky Derby third-place finishers Paddy O’Prado and Dullahan. After sending out Cleburne and Smart Cover to run 1-2 in 2013 (ahead of future Kentucky Derby starters Tapiture and Ride On Curlin), Romans enjoyed further success with Not This Time (2016) and Dennis’ Moment (2019). The latter colt completed 1 1⁄16 miles in a quick 1:43.58, establishing the stakes record.

 

By J. Keeler Johnson

Results

Win

Place

Show

2

West Saratoga10

$26.96

$8.24

$5.22

8

Risk It5

$3.24

$2.88

1

Liberal Arts3

$5.44

6

Seize the Grey2

4

Edified1

Payouts

Double

10/2

111.70

Exacta

2/8

90.44

Pick 3

6/10/2

148.16

Pick 3

6/6/2

15.82

Super High Five

0

4094.90

Superfecta

2/8/1/6

101.48

Trifecta

2/8/1

127.38

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Entries

Jockey

Owner

Trainer

Current odds

Wagers

1

Liberal Arts

Torres Cristian A

Ferraro, Evan and Ferraro, Stephen

Medina Robert

9-1 ML 20-1

$24,511

2

West Saratoga

Rafael Bejarano

Harry L. Veruchi

Larry W. Demeritte

12-1 ML 8-1

$19,856

3

Union Roll

Gerardo Corrales

Calumet Farm

Todd A. Pletcher

8-1 ML 5-1

$29,095

4

Edified

Ricardo Santana, Jr.

Courtlandt Farms

Steven M. Asmussen

1-1 ML 8-1

$21,761

5

Market Street

Gabriel Saez

Les Wagner

D. Wayne Lukas

24-1 ML 8-1

$10,351

6

Seize the Grey

Jaime A. Torres

MyRaceHorse Stable

D. Wayne Lukas

9-2 ML 10-1

$44,846

7

Gettysburg Address

Flavien Prat

WinStar Farm LLC and Siena Farm LLC

Brad H. Cox

SCR

8

Risk It

Tyler Gaffalione

Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC and Three Chimneys Farm

Steven M. Asmussen

6-5 ML 2-1

$113,506

9

Patriot Spirit

Jesus Lopez Castanon

Mellon Patch, Inc.

Michael B. Campbell

3-1 ML 7-2

$60,517

Road to the Kentucky Derby

Demoiselle

December 2, 2023

Aqueduct • New York, NY, USA

Points10-5-3-2-1

Remsen

December 2, 2023

Aqueduct • New York, NY, USA

Points10-5-3-2-1

Starlet

December 9, 2023

Los Alamitos • Cypress, CA, USA

Points10-5-3-2-1

Los Alamitos Futurity (GII)

December 9, 2023

Los Alamitos • Cypress, CA, USA

Points10-5-3-2-1

Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun

December 13, 2023

Kawasaki • Kawaski, Japan, JRA

Points20-10-6-4-2

Springboard Mile

December 15, 2023

Remington Park • Oklahoma City, OK, USA

Points10-5-3-2-1

Untapable

December 23, 2023

Fair Grounds • New Orleans, LA, USA

Points10-5-3-2-1

Gun Runner

December 23, 2023

Fair Grounds • New Orleans, LA, USA

Points10-5-3-2-1

Smarty Jones

January 1, 2024

Oaklawn Park • Hot Springs, AR, USA

Points10-5-3-2-1

Jerome

January 6, 2024

Aqueduct • New York, NY, USA

Points10-5-3-2-1

Santa Ynez

January 7, 2024

Santa Anita Park • Arcadia, CA, USA

Points10-5-3-2-1

Sham (GIII)

January 7, 2024

Santa Anita Park • Arcadia, CA, USA

Points10-5-3-2-1

Busanda

January 13, 2024

Aqueduct • New York, NY, USA

Points20-10-6-4-2

Silverbulletday

January 20, 2024

Fair Grounds • New Orleans, LA, USA

Points20-10-6-4-2

Lecomte (GIII)

January 20, 2024

Fair Grounds • New Orleans, LA, USA

Points20-10-6-4-2

Las Virgenes

January 27, 2024

Santa Anita Park • Arcadia, CA, USA

Points20-10-6-4-2

Martha Washington

January 27, 2024

Oaklawn Park • Hot Springs, AR, USA

Points20-10-6-4-2

Southwest (GIII)

January 27, 2024

Oaklawn Park • Hot Springs, AR, USA

Points20-10-6-4-2

Forward Gal

February 3, 2024

Gulfstream Park • Hallandale Beach, FL, USA

Points20-10-6-4-2

Robert B. Lewis (GIII)

February 3, 2024

Santa Anita Park • Arcadia, CA, USA

Points20-10-6-4-2

Holy Bull (GIII)

February 3, 2024

Gulfstream Park • Hallandale Beach, FL, USA

Points20-10-6-4-2

Suncoast

February 10, 2024

Tampa Bay Downs • Tampa, FL, USA

Points20-10-6-4-2

Sam F. Davis (GIII)

February 10, 2024

Tampa Bay Downs • Tampa, FL, USA

Points20-10-6-4-2

Withers (GIII)

February 10, 2024

Aqueduct • New York, NY, USA

Points20-10-6-4-2

UAE Oaks

February 16, 2024

Meydan Racecourse • Dubai, UAE

Points50-25-15-10-5

Rachel Alexandra

February 17, 2024

Fair Grounds • New Orleans, LA, USA

Points50-25-15-10-5

Risen Star (GII)

February 17, 2024

Fair Grounds • New Orleans, LA, USA

Points50-25-15-10-5

Hyacinth

February 18, 2024

Tokyo • Tokyo, Japan

Points30-15-9-6-3

Honeybee

February 24, 2024

Oaklawn Park • Hot Springs, AR, USA

Points50-25-15-10-5

Rebel (GII)

February 24, 2024

Oaklawn Park • Hot Springs, AR, USA

Points50-25-15-10-5

Patton

March 1, 2024

Dundalk • Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland

Points20-10-6-4-2

Busher

March 2, 2024

Aqueduct • New York, NY, USA

Points50-25-15-10-5

Davona Dale

March 2, 2024

Gulfstream Park • Hallandale Beach, FL, USA

Points50-25-15-10-5

Cincinnati Trophy

March 2, 2024

Turfway Park • Florence, KY, USA

Points20-10-6-4-2

Fountain of Youth (GII)

March 2, 2024

Gulfstream Park • Hallandale Beach, FL, USA

Points50-25-15-10-5

John Battaglia Memorial

March 2, 2024

Turfway Park • Florence, KY, USA

Points20-10-6-4-2

San Felipe (GII)

March 2, 2024

Santa Anita • Arcadia, CA, USA

Points50-25-15-10-5

Gotham (GIII)

March 2, 2024

Aqueduct • New York, NY, USA

Points50-25-15-10-5

Santa Ysabel

March 3, 2024

Santa Anita Park • Arcadia, CA, USA

Points50-25-15-10-5

Tampa Bay Derby (GII)

March 9, 2024

Tampa Bay Downs • Tampa, FL, USA

Points50-25-15-10-5

Road to the Kentucky Derby Condition Stakes

March 13, 2024

Kempton • Sunbury-on-Thames, England, UK

Points20-10-6-4-2

Bourbonette Oaks

March 23, 2024

Turfway Park • Florence, KY, USA

Points50-25-15-10-5

Fair Grounds Oaks

March 23, 2024

Fair Grounds • New Orleans, LA, USA

Points100-50-25-15-10

Fukuryu

March 23, 2024

Nakayama • Funabashi, Chiba, Japan, JRA

Points40-20-12-8-4

Louisiana Derby (GII)

March 23, 2024

Fair Grounds • New Orleans, LA, USA

Points100-50-25-15-10

Jeff Ruby Steaks (GIII)

March 23, 2024

Turfway Park • Florence, KY, USA

Points100-50-25-15-10

Sunland Park Oaks

March 24, 2024

Sunland Park • Sunland Park, NM, USA

Points20-10-6-4-2

Sunland Derby (GIII)

March 24, 2024

Sunland Park • Sunland Park, NM, USA

Points20-10-6-4-2

Fantasy

March 30, 2024

Oaklawn Park • Hot Springs, AR, USA

Points100-50-25-15-10

Gulfstream Park Oaks

March 30, 2024

Gulfstream Park • Hallandale Beach, FL, USA

Points100-50-25-15-10

UAE Derby (GII)

March 30, 2024

Meydan Racecourse • Dubai, UAE

Points100-50-25-15-10

Arkansas Derby (GI)

March 30, 2024

Oaklawn Park • Hot Springs, AR, USA

Points100-50-25-15-10

Florida Derby (GI)

March 30, 2024

Gulfstream Park • Hallandale Beach, FL, USA

Points100-50-25-15-10

Cardinal Condition Stakes

March 30, 2024

Chelmsford City • Chelmsford, England, UK

Points30-15-9-6-3

Ashland

April 5, 2024

Keeneland • Lexington, KY, USA

Points100-50-25-15-10

Santa Anita Oaks

April 6, 2024

Santa Anita Park • Arcadia, CA, USA

Points100-50-25-15-10

Gazelle

April 6, 2024

Aqueduct • New York, NY, USA

Points100-50-25-15-10

Santa Anita Derby (GI)

April 6, 2024

Santa Anita Park • Arcadia, CA, USA

Points100-50-25-15-10

Blue Grass (GI)

April 6, 2024

Keeneland • Lexington, KY, USA

Points100-50-25-15-10

Wood Memorial (GII)

April 6, 2024

Aqueduct • New York, NY, USA

Points100-50-25-15-10

Lexington (GIII)

April 13, 2024

Keeneland • Lexington, KY, USA

Points20-10-6-4-2

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