Bob Baffert is ready to embark on winning a record-breaking seventh Kentucky Derby (G1), and he’ll open his quest Saturday at Churchill Downs, the home of the Derby, by sending out unbeaten Salahudin in the $300,000 Iroquois Stakes (G3).
The 1-mile Iroquois for 2-year-olds is the first of 36 Kentucky Derby prep races, and awards the top five finishers qualifying points 10-5-3-2-1 on a sliding scale. The race has been the opener on the Road to the Kentucky Derby since 2013.
The Road to the Kentucky Oaks (G1) also gets going Saturday, with Salahudin the favorite in the $300,000 Pocahontas Stakes (G3) for 2-year-old fillies.
Baffert doesn't usually test his 2-year-olds in the Iroquois, usually opting for an early Derby prep at his home base in southern California. But now he has a division based at Churchill Downs, too. The Hall of Fame trainer does have a victory in the Iroquois with Exploit on Nov. 8, 1998.
The Iroquois is named after the first U.S.-bred winner of England’s Derby at Epsom in 1881. Inaugurated in 1780, the Epsom Classic was the first “Derby” in racing.
Iroquois, the horse, also has connections to the first Kentucky Derby winner, Hall of Famer Aristides (1875). Both colts were by the same sire, British import Leamington. Also, Aristides Welch bred Iroquois, the namesake of the colt Aristides.
Salahudin is the 8-5 morning-line favorite for trainer Bob Baffert in a field of nine 2-year-olds.
Purchased for $325,000 by Zedan Racing Stables, Salahudin is 2-for-2, winning his debut by two lengths on July 17 and the Ellis Park Juvenile by 4 ½ lengths on Aug. 9 – both at Ellis Park (about two hours from Churchill Downs).
A son of Uncle Mo, Salahudin looks to be a pace presser with tactical speed and a strong closing kick. Florent Geroux, aboard for the colt's two wins, has the call leaving from post 7.
Blessed Flyer is the 9-2 second choice for trainer Michael Tomlinson. A son of Dialed In, purchased for $270,000, also is 2-for-2, a career debut winner at Keeneland on April 16 and a win in the Bashford Manor Stakes at Churchill Downs on June 28 at Churchill Downs -- both by a head.
He Is No Lie is 5-1 for trainer Dug O'Neill. The colt won his career debut at Santa Anita, was beaten a head by Blessed Flyer in the Bashford Manor, and was a distant fourth in the Best Pal Stakes (G3) at Del Mar on Aug. 28. Looks like a front-runner, based on his first two starts, then stumbled at the start of the Best Pal and was never in contention.
Caribbean Life (6-1) is trained by Will Walden, and Flavien Pratt gets the call on the colt who won in his career debut at Ellis Park on Aug. 8.
Bearamour (30-1) will be ridden by veteran James Graham for trainer Keith Desormeaux. He ran third in the Ellis Park Juvenile last time out.
Admiral's Order (15-1): Could set the early pace under jockey Luan Machado. The Midshipman colt broke his maiden on a sloppy track at Ellis Park, then ran fifth in the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Sprint on Aug. 29.
Real Goodbar (10-1): Won first time out at Colonial Downs but moves into tougher company here for trainer Kenny McPeek
Antivenom (6-1), a chestnut son of Candy Ride, is trained by Mark Casse and will be ridden by Jose Ortiz. He won his only start on July 4 at Ellis Park.
Real Gone (12-1) ships in from Florida, where he broke his maiden second time out by 8 ½ lengths on Aug. 22 for trainer Patrick Biancone. His win came by stalking the pace and kicking clear in the stretch.
The Iroquois is one of five stakes Saturday on the Churchill Downs 11-race program.
Post time for the Iroquois is 5:29 p.m. ET.
| 1 | Caribbean Life (KY) | 6-1 | Flavien Prat | William Walden |
| 2 | Blessed Flyer (KY) | 9-2 | Brian Hernandez Jr. | Michael Tomlinson |
| 3 | Bearamour (KY) | 30-1 | James Graham | John Desormeaux |
| 4 | Admiral's Order (KY) | 15-1 | Luan Machado | Ben Colebrook |
| 5 | Real Goodbar (KY) | 10-1 | Emmanuel Esquivel | Kenneth McPeek |
| 6 | Antivenom (KY) | 6-1 | Jose Ortiz | Mark Casse |
| 7 | Salahudin (KY) | 8-5 | Florent Geroux | Bob Baffert |
| 8 | He Is No Lie (KY) | 5-1 | Joel Rosario | Doug O'Neill |
| 9 | Real Gone (KY) | 12-1 | Keith Asmussen | Philip Biancone |
Last Updated on 09/09/2026
Richard Rosenblatt is an award-winning journalist and former Associated Press Horse Racing Editor. Currently, he serves as the news editor at US Racing, overseeing exclusive content from contributors worldwide.
